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STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- There was little question which team the sellout crowd of 13,699 favored at the Globe Arena last night.
More specifically, which player they came to see.
"It's pretty neat, a special experience," said Ottawa winger Daniel Alfredsson, who was able to savor the night despite his team's 4-3, overtime loss to the Penguins in the first of back-to-back games here.
It was the first regular-season NHL game in Alfredsson's homeland of Sweden.
Fans will get a chance to see him again tonight in the rematch, but it likely is too much to hope that he will finish his career with a season or two in Sweden.
"I've thought about it, and I'm pretty sure it won't happen," Alfredsson, 35, said. "I think I'll play in the NHL as long as I feel like I can perform and feel motivated. Once that stops, you can't just go back and try to play one year just for fun.
"If you want to try to play in the Swedish league or any of the top leagues in Europe, you have to commit yourself 100 percent. Otherwise, it would be a very long year."
Matchup: Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators, 2:30 p.m. Eastern, Globe Arena, Stockholm, Sweden.
TV, radio: FSN Pittsburgh, WXDX-FM (105.9).
Probable goaltenders: Marc-Andre Fleury for Penguins. Martin Gerber for Senators.
Penguins: Coming off 4-3, OT win against Ottawa last night. ... C Sidney Crosby won 63 percent of faceoffs (15 of 26). ... Are 10-7-1 vs. Senators dating to start of 2006-07 and including playoffs.
Senators: Outhit Penguins, 39-23, with Jason Smith getting five. ... Blocked 21 shots, 10 more than Penguins. ... D Filip Kuba played 29:44 and had two assists.
Hidden stat: Penguins C Sidney Crosby needs five points to reach 300 for his career.
Penguins coach Michel Therrien went with experience in deciding which defensemen to dress. He scratched rookie Alex Goligoski in favor of veteran Darryl Sydor.
"We have a lot of respect for Darryl Sydor. He deserves to be a part of that group to start with the defensemen," Therrien said. "Goligoski is a young defenseman that we like. ... We're going to work with him."
Right winger Petr Sykora, who has a groin injury, did not play and, considering he wasn't able to participate in the morning skate, is highly doubtful for the rematch tonight.
"I'm not expecting a miracle at midnight," Therrien said.
The Penguins also scratched winger Bill Thomas and goaltender John Curry.
Ottawa's first-year coach, Craig Hartsburg, is not old school when it comes to the tradition of having a light practice early on game days.
"I hate morning skates," he said during a news conference after both clubs held them.
"That's why when we get going they'll be optional."
Ottawa scratched centers Mike Fisher (groin) and Cody Bass, defenseman Luke Richardson and goaltender Brian Elliott. ... The Penguins are 3-7-1 in their past 11 season openers. ... Ottawa was the home team. The Penguins take that role tonight. ... Sweden's Mats Sundin, a former Toronto Maple Leaf currently unsigned in the NHL, handled the ceremonial puck drop before the game and got a standing ovation.
