ncpensfan: Shelly, Do you have any explanation why Therrian is playing Minard twice as much as Pesonen? It does appear that they bring different skills to the game but why not give them each a fair shot at a good look?

Shelly Anderson: That's a decent question. It's possible you hit on the answer. Chris Minard is a tougher customer who fits in well on a third or fourth line. He also has a lot more North American pro experience, including some NHL games. Janne Pesonen was a star in Finland, but that's a much different game. When he and the Penguins played an exhibition game in Helsinki, it was a somewhat akward game -- big ice, very little physical play. So while Pesonen has been productive in with the Baby Penguins, he is still learning here, and on-the-job training is a little more risky with a player who projects as a top-six forward.

Jim66: What is the Status of Zigimanus for the game?

Shelly Anderson: It looks as if faceoff whiz Mike Zigomanis is out again tonight. He did not participate in the morning skate. He's still listed as day-to-day.

Jim66: Is there a nick name for Orpick in the locker room? His hitting is just sick this year.

Shelly Anderson: I've only heard the same old standard hockey type of nicknames for defenseman Brooks Orpik -- Brooksie and Orps. You're right about his physical play. He's smart about when to hit so that he doesn't leave his team vulnerable to odd-man breaks, but he can dish them out.

Jim66: My son plays PeeWee hockey for Lafayette/Baton Rouge in the NTHL League in Texas and there seem to be more Penguins fans than Stars fans [there]. Any numbers on Pens' sales outside of the Pittsburgh area?

Shelly Anderson: That's nearly impossible to track because there are displaced Pittsburghers and hockey fans who live elsewhere but just happen to be Penguins fans. And because most other teams don't sell out every game as the Penguins do, it's tough to tell where each ticket-buyer is from. It does seem that the Penguins "travel well." Maybe not as well as the Steelers, but it's pretty easy to spot Penguins jerseys at their road games.

Jim66: I heard Mario is coaching his son's travel team. Any rumors that he may want to coach the Pens' in the future?

Shelly Anderson: Well, there have been those secret phone calls from Mario Lemieux to Ron Francis and Wayne Gretzky. Just kidding. It would be surprising if the team's co-owner and Hall of Fame center showed an interest in getting behind an NHL bench.

MAdesso: Hey Shelly, whats the latest with Fleury?

Shelly Anderson: Marc-Andre Fleury, the Penguins' No. 1 goaltender, took the morning skate today, the first practice of any kind where he has joined his teammates since he got what is believed to be a groin injury Nov. 15. That means he is getting closer -- it's probably more a matter of game conditioning and making sure the groin is strong than recovery at this point -- but he's not ready for tonight.

ncpensfan: I am not convinced that Satan gives a full effort each night. To his credit he has had some really pretty goals but I just don't see the kind of two way effort we need from out players. Any thoughts?

Shelly Anderson: You get what you pay for, and Miroslav Satan has never had a two-way game that would make people confuse him for, say, Marian Hossa. He has long had a reputation for concentrating too much on the offensive and and for taking nights off. That said, Satan has pretty much had to make appearances in both ends with the Penguins in order to play with the likes of Sidney Crosby, and he hasn't been a detriment in that area.

ncpensfan: We were at the Canes game on Thursday and there were tons of Pens fans there. It was really nice to see. I was only disappointed that we didn't see more of a variety of names on Jerseys ... after all the team is more than just Crosby and Malkin!

Shelly Anderson: Once you get outside Pittsburgh, the name recognition of the team probably drops beyond those two. Sidney Crosby consistently has one of the best-selling jerseys of all NHL players, and Evgeni Malkin no doubt has increased his visibility by finishing second in the scoring race last season and leading the league in points now.

Jim66: Any good trade rumors about a winger?

Shelly Anderson: Just the ones you guys come up with. Even though the centers are carrying the team in terms of points, it's a delicate thing to pull a big trade this early when a team is winning. Plus, it's hard to hold the wingers to the standards set by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. That doesn't mean general manager Ray Shero and his pro scouting staff aren't keeping a close eye and ear on things.

MAdesso: Hi Shelly, when do you expect Whitney to start playing?

Shelly Anderson: A good guess would be Christmas week, as long as his surgically repaired foot is strong and he has no compensation issues. Ryan Whitney can't get back soon enough in terms of the team needing him, though. Hal Gill is the latest casualty, out with a shoulder injury that will be re-evaluated today or tomorrow. Ben Lovejoy will make his NHL debut tonight. Already out are Whitney, Sergei Gonchar and Philippe Boucher.

Jim66: With all the economy fear are the Pens or NHL planning any major cut backs in the near or distant future?

Shelly Anderson: That doesn't seem likely. Commissioner Gary Bettman expects that the global financial problems won't hit the NHL hard until at least next season because of advance commitments from sponsors, season ticket holders, etc. The salary cap should be pretty stable for next season, or at least that's how it looks. But the Canadian dollar has been dropping and, of course, things in the United States haven't stabilized. As for the Penguins, they're probably as insulated against the downturn as any team considering their success and string of sellouts.

straitstang: Hi, Shelly I know you have already talked about Fleury, any chance he will play Thursday against the Isles, the second of the the two games in a row?

Shelly Anderson: That's a possibility, but normally players who are injured take a week or so after they return to practice before they are cleared to play, and the wiry Marc-Andre Fleury needs to have all his flexibility and strength without concern over reinjury.

Jim66: Shelly -- women's hockey is getting really popular again, any word on a female ref or player in the NHL/AHL Again?

Shelly Anderson: That's probably on the horizon, right on the heels of a female president or prime minister taking office.

Jim66: Minard and Pensonen looked better when they were on the same line any chance they do more of that tonight?

Shelly Anderson: It was hard to tell at the morning skate -- the first practice or skate they've had in several days because of a busy schedule. But the way things change in terms of line combinations, it's certainly a possibility.

Shelly Anderson: Thanks, everyone. Back at you next week.