Austin_T.J.: So is the only way the Pens win tonight is if they open big in the first 20min?

Shelly Anderson: Not necessarily. The Penguins could win a tight game late. But a big first period certainly wouldn't hurt when you're facing elimination.

theWellHungarian: I can't wait until Saturday's Game 7 ... Pens in 7!

Shelly Anderson: Coming back from a 3-1 deficit has been done in the playoffs. Just not a lot.

Austin_T.J.: Right, but a win tonight pushes this series to game 7, don't you think?

Shelly Anderson: Well, that's probably what the Dallas fans thought ...

92caps: If Malkin is hurt why not double shift Crosby more?

Shelly Anderson: There's no indication that Evgeni Malkin is hurt. He's obviously struggling to score, although he seemed to be more himself in Game 3. Sidney Crosby's ice time is down some compared with Malkin's because Malkin is being left out on the power play longer. Crosby said after the morning skate that he's approaching this like a Game 7 in that he hopes to leave the tank empty by the end of the game. Whether that means coach Michel Therrien will facilitate that by giving Crosby more ice time is anyone's guess at this point.

mc: How do you see the Pens doing tonight?

Shelly Anderson: Given all the team has been through, with injuries and fighting for division and conference titles, it would be surprising if the Penguins fall flat. If they're going to win, though, it probably will be something like Game 3, very close and down to the wire.

Pittsburgh_Joe_in_Indiana: Why has Georges Laraque been scratched? I think we would benefit from seeing him play.

Shelly Anderson: Georges Laraque will be the first to tell you his first responsibility is as an enforcer, and in this series this deep into the playoffs, there's just not much need for that. The Penguins would rather have someone with more skill and better tactical defensive play. Certainly, the Penguins have been able to play a physical game without Laraque, and there's just not much call for fighting.

92caps: Is Goligoski in for Scuderi or is someone else out?

Shelly Anderson: The Penguins recalled defenseman Alex Goligoski on an emergency basis because Kris Letang left the team to attend the funeral of good friend Luc Bourdan, the Vancouver defenseman who was killed in a motorcycle accident this week. Letang, who has been scratched the past two games, is due back this afternoon, but in the final, the Penguins didn't want to take any risks that Letang's flight would be delayed and another defenseman might somehow not be able to play.

synonomous: Just wondering if everybody saw the article on ESPN about Malkin. I feel like the entire world is coming down on him... maybe a bit too prematurely.

Shelly Anderson: Didn't see that one specifically, but the flavor is pretty similar everywhere. There's no reason to believe the Penguins when they say no one puts more pressure on them than they put on themselves, and if you had seen Evgeni Malkin after Game 4, you would know how upset he is at himself. It's possible after, what, 100 games, he's just spent after never playing anything approaching that many before.

theWellHungarian: I liked what we did in Game 3 with throwing Gary Roberts out on random lines. He provided a spark & much needed "intensity-in-ten-cities." How's come they didn't do more of that in Game 4?

Shelly Anderson: Well, they used him maybe a little more on the power play, and perhaps they didn't want to get into a situation of overdoing his minutes. Or maybe it was because Sidney Crosby seemed to be clicking with his linemates, although they couldn't convert many of the chances he created, especially Pascal Dupuis.

Austin_T.J.: Any indication that Crosby's ankle is still bothering him? That could be why his ice time has been down.

Shelly Anderson: When Sidney Crosby got the high ankle sprain, we were told it wouldn't be completely healed until he got to rest it during the offseason, but he has said repeatedly and for many weeks that it is not an issue. Either way, at this point, there's no reason to hold back now, eh?

Austin_T.J.: Living here in Austin yes that is what a lot of people did think here. But Dallas wasn't 11-1 at home in the playoffs, nor did they have the smoke machine. But who in your mind needs to step up to force a game 6?

Shelly Anderson: Anyone who can score tonight would fit that role. Evgeni Malkin, Petr Sykora, Pascal Dupuis -- take your pick of forwards who need to produce more. Then again, if Sidney Crosby or Sergei Gonchar can come up with a couple each, that would work, too. It's not so much who; just do. Then they could get back to that smoke machine at Mellon Arena.

charlie: I think there is a ton of upside to the Pens game, so if they can realize this they can still win this series. No question about the RW team, but they can be beat. Also, do you think Malone's injuries last series are effecting him now? He doesn't seem the same.

Shelly Anderson: Judging from the Penguins' words and demeanor, they do, in fact, think their game is good enough to win the series. The Red Wings also are certainly good enough to win. That's what makes it a good matchup. As for Ryan Malone, he doesn't seem any more beat up than anyone else, and his black eyes and broken nose even seem to be healing.

92caps: Yes it has been frustrating seeing DuPuis out there with Crosby at times, sometimes his hands look as bad as Mark Recchi's. Are those lines staying the same?

Shelly Anderson: You don't think Michel Therrien is divulging that information, do you? He certainly could go the route of subbing Gary Roberts on different lines or putting Evgeni Malkin on Sidney Crosby's flank, but those are things that often happen during the course of the game.

traffic: How would you rate the Pens performance Saturday? I heard two sports guys say they played their best game of the series. I thought they played pretty good, but I thought Weds was so much better, and not just because they won Wed.

Shelly Anderson: Both games were good, two-way performances by the Penguins. You could maybe rate Game 4 a little behind Game 3 because of the failure to convert on the 5-on-3 power play in the third period.

Pittsburgh_Joe_in_Indiana: What's the vibe from the Pens players? I am getting a lot of crow from Detroit fans here but truly feel that there WILL BE A GAME 7. I look for a 5-2 score tonight. Pens Win of course.

Shelly Anderson: The Penguins have been a little more businesslike the past couple days, not that they were acting like they were at the beach before that. Other than that, there really hasn't been much change. You can decide whether that's good or bad.

pimpinpens: Pens need to tighten up D around the net, instead of chasing the puck.

Shelly Anderson: It's a balance. Sometimes, chasing the puck IS the way to play good defense and get the transition game going. Also, with Tomas Holmstrom out, there wasn't as much traffic around the Penguins net the last game. He's back tonight.

Austin_T.J.: Why not go guns a blazing tonight and put Malkin Crosby and Hossa on the same line for the entire game? Then have Malone Staal Sykora on 2nd

Shelly Anderson: Sorry, I don't have Michel Therrien's cell to pass that along. With the Penguins facing elimination, there's no telling what we might see in an attempt to stay alive if they fall behind in the game.