Despite a lineup featuring a Hall of Fame, soon-to-be 700-goal scorer (Mario Lemieux), a 400-goal scorer (Mark Recchi), two 300-goal scorers (Ziggy Palffy and John LeClair) and rookie phenom Sidney Crosby, the Penguins are the NHL’s only winless club.
“When you go through a time like we have, you go to basics,” Crosby said. “Get the puck at the net and play simple hockey, and try to get back [to winning] that way.”
Coach Eddie Olczyk added, “I don’t want to say we went back to basics, just that we were reinforcing the fundamentals.”
Pittsburgh have spent much of the four-day layoff between Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay and Thursday night’s game against New Jersey practicing defensive coverages and watching game film in an effort to identify breakdowns in their end that have led to goals.
The Penguins rank 29th in the league with a 4.17 goals-against average.
Offensively, despite the breadth of talent, Pittsburgh is 21st in goals per game (2.72).
Ice shavings
The Thrashers placed right winger J.P. Vigier on the injured list with a broken bone in his foot sustained last Friday against the Maple Leafs. . . . The Rangers activated goalie Kevin Weekes (groin) from the injured list and also recalled defenseman Dale Purinton, who had been serving a 10-game suspension for gouging Boston’s Colton Orr in the eye during an exhibition game, and assigned rookie goalie Chris Holt to Hartford of the American Hockey League.
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
GAME, SYNOPSIS
N.Y. Islanders 3 at N.Y. Rangers 2
Miroslav Satan beat Henrik Lundqvist with wrist shot in shootout to give Islanders 1st win in local rivalry in 11 games. Satan, who had goal in regulation, was only player to score in shootout.
Anaheim 2 at St. Louis 3
Eric Brewer scored with :56 left in regulation, beating Mighty Ducks’ Ilya Bryzgalov with shot from just inside blue line, to give Blues victory just :20 after Anaheim’s Teemu Selanne had tied it.
San Jose 1 at Minnesota 6
Manny Fernandez made 34 saves and Wild scored 5 goals in 3rd period for 2nd straight win. Derek Boogaard’s 1st NHL goal put Minnesota ahead for good in 3rd on pass from Kyle Wanvig.
Los Angeles 5 at Colorado 4
Craig Conroy scored winning goal with :58 left to lift Kings over Avalanche, which blew 3-goal lead for 2nd time in week. Conroy scored 1st goal of season, beating goalie David Aebischer.
