Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins set June 2002 as a deadline to secure financing for an arena to replace Mellon Arena, oldest in the NHL. Penguins executive Tom Rooney said the next eight to 12 months will be critical in the pursuit of a new arena, which owner-player Mario Lemieux said is a necessity if the franchise is to survive in Pittsburgh. Gov. Ridge has told the Penguins he must see a major investment from private sources and other public entities before he commits state money. A new arena is projected to cost from $200 million to $250 million.

Everybody will be watching Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux when the Penguins take the ice tonight against the Flyers at the Spectrum. And with good reason. The Penguins' superstar will be playing in just his third game since recovering from back surgery and a subsequent infection. He says he is still a bit rusty, but his performances say otherwise. He scored a goal and had an assist in a win over the visiting Capitals Tuesday night, and had three assists in a win in Quebec Saturday.

Jaromir Jagr wants out of Pittsburgh, the Toronto Sun reported yesterday. Jagr missed Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the explanation was that he did so because of a groin injury. But the real reason is that Jagr is refusing to play for the Penguins, the Sun said. In fact, he never wants to play for them again. He reportedly is angry about a number of matters, not the least of which is his contract. He turned down a deal that would have paid him $49 million over seven years, beginning with $4 million and escalating by $1 million a year.

Just a few weeks ago, some people accused Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux of caring more about his scoring streak than the team. Some thought the Penguins might win more without him. Well, now we'll find out how well the Pens do without the All-Star center, who will be sidelined for at least six weeks with a herniated disc in his lower back. Lemieux hasn't played since last Wednesday, when his 46-game scoring streak ended after he took himself out in the second period against the New York Rangers because he was in too much pain.

Asked before the Penguins and Flyers resumed postseason hostilities about what might decide a series between seemingly evenly-matched teams, former Stanley Cup champion Chris Kunitz dodged the obvious. "It's usually unsung heroes," said Kunitz, a Penguins newcomer who went all the way with the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks. "It's somebody that comes through in the clutch that maybe isn't expecting to or brings the elevation of their game up. " Kunitz' observation might have been a cue to fellow Penguins winger Tyler Kennedy last night.

Hartford and Pittsburgh are off to surprising starts this season - surprisingly good for the Whalers and unexpectedly bad for the Penguins. Geoff Sanderson and Jeff O'Neill scored two goals each last night as the Whalers beat the visiting Penguins, 7-3. Hartford, which has missed the playoffs the last four seasons, is 2-0. Pittsburgh, which lost to Florida in the Eastern Conference finals last season, is 0-2. "We looked pretty solid...

Chris Kunitz scored a hat trick in the Pittsburgh Penguins' Super Bowl Sunday visit to the nation's capital, leading a 5-3 win over the Washington Capitals that reflected both teams' fortunes so far in the lockout-shortened season. Kris Letang, Paul Martin, and Matt Cooke also scored; Sidney Crosby had three assists; and Tomas Vokoun made 21 saves against his former team for the Penguins, who have won three straight and four of five to lead the Atlantic Division.   Devils bounce back Johan Hedberg made 22 saves for his 22d career shutout and the New Jersey Devils beat the host New York Islanders, 2-0. Steve Bernier scored for New Jersey in the third period and David Clarkson added an empty-netter to help the Devils snap a four-game winless streak (0-1-3)

The Penguins have lost two games in a row. In the last couple of years, the proper reaction to such an update would have been: "Is that all?" Now, in a season in which their Mario Lemieux has become an MVP candidate, it really is news that the Penguins lost two straight. This is only the third time in the last two months that Pittsburgh has lost back-to-back games. If the Flyers beat them here tonight (Channel 57, 7:30), the Penguins will be in their first three-game losing streak since early in the season.

Martin Straka scored the game-winner in overtime after Mario Lemieux's dramatic goal with 1:18 left in regulation kept Pittsburgh's season alive, as the host Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres, 3-2, last night to force Game7. The Sabres, less than 90 seconds away from reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the third time in four years, will play host to the Penguins tomorrow night. "We were worried, I can't say we weren't," Penguins forward Kevin Stevens said. "We couldn't seem to get the puck past [Dominik]

Matthew Barnaby got Toronto goalie Curtis Joseph's attention with some rough play. Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn is still trying to get the referees to take notice. "I'd like to take a stick and hit them over the head, but you can't do that," Quinn said after Toronto's 5-2 loss to host Pittsburgh last night. "What do you do? You cry. I'm sitting here crying. " The Penguins were only called for three penalties, none of them involving contact with Joseph. Quinn and Joseph were particularly upset about a sequence that led to Michal Rozsival's goal that gave the Penguins a 3-1 lead.