Daily Clips – 12/5/13

Ex-Penguins winger Kennedy 'emotional' about return By Josh Yohe

Tyler Kennedy came home Wednesday, and that might be conflicting.

Kennedy uncharacteristically opened up about his time in Pittsburgh, the devastation he felt after being traded and the frustration of being a healthy scratch last spring.

The 27-year-old winger loves this city but sounded happy to have been traded in June to the San Jose Sharks, who face the Penguins at 7 p.m. Thursday at Consol Energy Center.

“It's definitely a little bit of an emotional roller coaster,” he said. “I was here for six years. I grew up a lot as a player and as a person. Pittsburgh was a second home to me.”

Now it's part of his past.

Kennedy was a healthy scratch for the first four games of the 2013 postseason and also was scratched for Games 2 and 3 of the Eastern Conference final against Boston.

The benching took a toll.

“Not playing kind of hurts,” Kennedy said. “But you've got to remember who you are and that you know how to play hockey. It was frustrating. But that was their decision and something they need to stand by.”

Although Kennedy still speaks with a hint of animosity about the spring, he refused to criticize Penguins general manager Ray Shero or coach Dan Bylsma.

“I've moved on,” he said. “Tomorrow's a new day. There's no hard feelings. Dan was always up-front with me. So was the rest of the staff. Ray was always up-front with me. There's a lot of respect there.”

Kennedy broke into the NHL in 2007, scored two crucial goals in the 2009 Stanley Cup final — including the winner against Detroit in Game 6 at Mellon Arena — and peaked during the 2010-11 season, scoring a career-high 21 goals.

The Penguins rewarded him with a two-year, $4 million deal the following summer, but he failed to reach that level again.

“I knew it was time for me to move on,” Kennedy said. “When I got traded, I kind of knew it was coming. At the end-of-year meetings, Ray was pretty straight forward.

“It was a pretty emotional day, leaving Pittsburgh and a lot of great buddies. Pittsburgh is such a great city. Great people here. The fans are passionate. Just walking around, people are like, ‘Hey, Kennedy, what's up?' I'll hold that close to me for a long time.”

Kennedy has three goals this season playing with center Joe Pavelski and left wing Martin Havlat. The Sharks own hockey's best record (19-3-5), and Kennedy has grown fond of San Jose.

The Ontario native even has developed a taste for the warm California weather.

“It's 75 and sunny every day,” he said. “We go anywhere else, and you're freezing.”

Bylsma offered a kind assessment of Kennedy.

“I've been with TK in Wilkes-Barre and here in Pittsburgh,” Bylsma said. “He's seen me grow as a coach. I've seen him grow as a player. A lot of fond memories.”

Among them?

“The Winter Classic. The Stanley Cup. I met my future wife here. Just the little things. Going through the ups and downs with the team. Just going through the struggles. I'll never forget it,” Kennedy said. “A lot of people helped me through my career here. ... I have a lot of people to thank.”

Penguins notebook: Sill thrives on penalty kill By Josh Yohe

With Evgeni Malkin in the penalty box and the Penguins forced to kill a penalty just to reach overtime against the New York Islanders on Tuesday, coach Dan Bylsma could have turned to a number of veteran penalty killers.

Instead, Zach Sill's name was called.

The rookie forward, with all of three games to his credit, appreciates that his coach believed in him enough to play in that situation.

“It's great that coach Bylsma can trust me to be out there in a PK situation in a tight game like that,” Sill said. “There were only a minute and 50 seconds left. It's great having that kind of responsibility.”

Sill has been a strong penalty killer at the AHL level, and it's a quality that the Penguins value most in him.

Sill excelled late against the Islanders, helping the Penguins earn a couple of valuable clears before New York's Thomas Vanek took a penalty.

“Penalty killing has been a natural thing for me,” Sill said. “It just fits my role as a grinder who works hard. I thrive when I get an opportunity to screw up someone's power play. I just want to outwork people. You have to outwork the other teams' power play, and that has come naturally.”

Sill doesn't know how long he will be in the NHL, but he intends on making the most of his opportunity.

“It's pretty safe to say,” he said, “that I'm thoroughly enjoying myself being here right now.”

QUITE A TEST

San Jose enters Thursday's game with three regulation losses while sporting the NHL's best record.

The Penguins are one of the Eastern Conference's hottest teams and have the league's two leading scorers in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

“We have a lot of respect for them,” San Jose winger Patrick Marleau said. “Obviously they're a great team, and this will be a great test.”

The Penguins historically struggle against the Sharks. For instance, they haven't won a game in San Jose since 1997.

“We don't see them often, but we'll learn about them,” right wing Craig Adams said. “There won't be any secrets when the game starts.”

San Jose coach Todd McLellan said the Sharks pride themselves on being deep down the middle, but he realizes the Penguins present a unique challenge.

“(Sidney) Crosby and (Evgeni) Malkin,” McLellan said, “are the elite.”

WILD, WILD WEST

Of the teams with the 10 highest point totals, eight come from the Western Conference.

Only the Penguins and Bruins crack the top 10 from the East.

McLellan joked that he constantly is asked to explain the phenomenon.

“You have no idea how many times I'm asked that question,” he said. “I really don't know. We've thought about the lockout and its effect. But it's just pure speculation. Will it even out in the second half? Maybe.”

TAKING IT EASY

Bylsma gave the Penguins an optional practice Wednesday. Most took the day off.

San Jose orchestrated a full-team but brief practice. The Sharks won the night before in Toronto.

Penguins Q&A: A conversation with Sidney Crosby

By Shelly Anderson / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Sidney Crosby recently became the sixth-fastest NHL player -- and fastest active player -- to reach 700 points. He leads the NHL with 38 points in 29 games. Tonight, the Penguins center and team captain is scheduled to play in his 500th game when the San Jose Sharks visit Consol Energy Center.

That would seem to make this an opportune time to catch up with the man considered to be the face of the league. Crosby, 26, recently sat down to discuss a wide range of topics.

Question: One thousand games is a pinnacle for an NHL player. You're going to be halfway there and still young. Is 500 games a milestone that makes you want to stop and reflect?

Answer: I think all those numbers make you think about it a little bit. When I think about 500, I probably think more about how many I could be at [if not for a lot of time lost to injuries]. But it's nice when you think about being halfway to a thousand. It's gone by pretty quickly, even though it could have been more.

Q: You've been in the league for several years and played hockey for probably all of your living memory. What's the biggest life lesson that you've taken from the game?

A: The biggest thing for me is the passion that I've always had for hockey. I remember growing up, no matter what I did in life, my parents always told me to try to do my best at it and be my best. I can say going through different things that that passion is the most important part. It's not skills or talent or any of that stuff. It's the passion. When that's at its highest, that's when my game is at its best. That work ethic, all the things that come with having that passion, that's the most important part. Whether you're trying to learn in hockey or trying to learn in life, I've always tried to be observant and tried to learn more, tried to evolve, whether it's as a hockey player or as a person. With each year, I try to do that. I don't know if that's something that consciously I think of -- I have to remind myself a lot -- but it's something that I try to think about.

Q: What are some of your favorite firsts?

A: First goal. First game is pretty cool. You're so nervous. You don't think that it's going to be 400 or 500 games down the road. All that matters is that one game. Everything is about that. And obviously, the Stanley Cup.

Q: The first Stanley Cup, you mean?

A: Yeah, hopefully there will be others.

Q: What kind of captain are you, and how have you grown in that role?

A: It's more lead-by-example. Try to say things once in awhile, but I don't think that that's really my style. Going back to the passion and being determined, showing that when things are tough is important.

Q: When you do speak up, is it in the locker room to kick some people in the behind, or is it on the bench, strategic stuff?

A: It could be either. You have to be confident in your instincts, when it's time [to speak up] and do what needs to be done. With each year, you just know when it's time, and it just happens. Guys need to trust you when you speak up. If you see something or know something that needs to be done or needs to be said and you trust your instincts, that's ultimately what it comes down to, and guys will trust you.

Q: What's it like to wake up the morning of a game day, and has that changed?

A: It's different. I can tell you from being hurt, going to watch games, to getting up in the morning having a game day, there's a difference. I don't know if it's excitement or anticipation or a certain level of focus, but there's something unique about it. Even though you're not watching the clock, you're not watching the seconds and minutes tick down, you're preparing.

Q: How well-rounded is your life away from hockey?

A: I think it's important to kind of get away a little bit. I enjoy simple things like everyone else. When I'm practicing, I think I'm pretty focused and I spend a lot of energy on making sure I get better, but once I'm outside the rink, I think, like anyone else, I like to enjoy everything that everyone else does. As far as what I do, a season like this [with a condensed schedule because of the Olympics], I just like being at home. You're traveling so much. Spending Sunday on the couch watching football or hanging out with friends, that's what gets me relaxed. I enjoy that kind of stuff.

Q: When you watch a hockey game on television, are you watching critically or are you scouting or is it for pure entertainment?

A: I tend to gravitate toward individual guys. When I watch a game, I don't really see the systems. We do so much of that [scouting] here, you don't want to do that at home as much. I

automatically look at individual guys, stuff they do, and think, 'What could I have done in that situation?'

Q: You've never been to Russia, where the Olympics will be held in February. Can you come up with a comprehensive list of the countries you have been to, for hockey or on your own? Start with Canada and the United States.

A: Belarus. Latvia. France. Slovakia. Austria. Sweden. Finland. Czech Republic. Italy. Germany. Bahamas.

Q: You've been all over Europe in particular.

A: Yeah. I've been pretty lucky to go to some different places. That's part of being able to play hockey and go to a lot of those places and experience that. I look back on a trip I had with Shattuck[-St. Mary's High School]. Ten days in France, we only played three games. We did a lot of different stuff. I would have never dreamed of going somewhere like that if it wasn't for hockey.

Q: How are things going with the Sidney Crosby Foundation?

A: Good. We sold chocolates [recently]. It's been good. Last year we had a charity game in Cole Harbour [Nova Scotia] with all my buddies growing up and had a great turnout. I'm still trying to figure out one specific event that we can do annually, but we're always doing things.

Q: Is the house you're building in the Pittsburgh area finished?

A: Yeah. I'm just waiting for the furniture.

Q: What's your favorite element of the house?

A: My basement. There's a little bar, a place to relax. It's an Irish pub-style. I have a shuffleboard. That's an area I think I'll spend time in and hang out in.

Q: And now some fun, rapid-fire questions. First one, have you ever gotten a speeding ticket?

A: Did I get a ticket? No, I have not gotten a ticket. I got a warning a couple of times.

Q: Have you ever gotten a parking ticket?

A: Oh, yeah. Tons of parking tickets. I'm bad with that.

Q: Can you drive a stick shift?

A: No. I tried in junior. I almost ruined my buddy's car and he didn't want to teach me.

Q: What's the last book you read?

A: "American Sniper" [the autobiography of SEAL Chief Chris Kyle]. Or maybe it was "Unbroken" [a World War II story by Laura Hillenbrand]. One of those.

Q: The Penguins were just in Florida. Do you burn or tan in the sun?

A: The first base is burn, but after that I tan.

Q: What's your favorite kind of joke?

A: One hundred percent, a practical joke. When you're around some of these creative minds, it's a lot of fun to see what they come up with.

Penguins notebook: Kennedy comfortable with San Jose scene

By Shelly Anderson / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

His new teammates think Tyler Kennedy is nuts for driving a big truck when they all have cars. After all, there's no snow or ice on the roads in San Jose, Calif.

"I've never seen weather like that. It's 75, 70 degrees, sunny every day," the Sharks right winger said Wednesday, a day before he will face his former team for the first time. The Sharks practiced at Consol Energy Center after Penguins practice.

Kennedy was in great spirits and seems to have found a good comfort level with the Sharks, who acquired him from the Penguins in a draft-day trade in June for a second-round draft pick.

He has been playing on a line with Martin Havlat and Joe Pavelski. He has three goals, 11 points in 27 games.

"We thought he was a piece that could come in and help our team play the way we wanted it to play -- with some speed, a little bit of tenacity, hard and committed," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "He's done all those things for us to this point. I really believe he's starting to feel comfortable with our team."

Kennedy called returning to Pittsburgh and Consol Energy Center "an emotional roller coaster. I was here for six years. It was a great six years. I really grew as a person and as a player. Pittsburgh was like a second home to me. It means a lot to be back here."

At one point, Kennedy was part of what might have been the top third line in the NHL with Matt Cooke and Jordan Staal. Now those three have scattered to different teams. The Penguins

made Kennedy a healthy scratch at times last season, so he was not surprised when he got traded.

"Not playing kind of hurts you, but you've got to remember who you are and know that you know how to play hockey, but obviously it was frustrating when I was sitting out," he said. "That was their decision and something they had to stand by, but I've moved on. There are no hard feelings."

He said when he got traded, it meant "leaving a lot of good buddies" among the Penguins.

Kennedy, 27, who was drafted by the Penguins in the fourth round in 2004, wanted a fresh start with San Jose. He ditched his old uniform No. 48 for No. 81 and set about learning a new system with new terminology and teammates.

"I've been really fortunate to go to another great team and another great coaching staff," he said. "There are a lot of comparisons from San Jose to Pittsburgh.

"They have a little bit different style. It's a different atmosphere in the [locker] room. They're both good."

Bringing their 'A' game

San Jose has won nine of its past 10 games and leads the Pacific Division with 43 points.

"They've probably proven themselves to be the best in the league right now," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said.

McLellan thinks a lot of the Penguins, too.

"I think [the game] will be a big test for us, in this building, with the talent that they have," he said. "But we're up to the task. We'll throw our best game out there and see what happens."

Tip-ins

The Penguins held an optional skate with these players participating: Forwards Chuck Kobasew, Brandon Sutter, Chris Conner, Andrew Ebbett, Craig Adams, Zach Sill and Jayson Megna; defensemen Olli Maatta, Robert Bortuzzo and Simon Despres; and goaltenders Marc-Andre Fleury and Jeff Zatkoff. ... Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi, recovering from Oct. 25 surgery for a broken left ankle, is walking without crutches, a cast, a boot or a brace.

Pens-Sharks Preview

NHL.com PENGUINS (19-9-1) vs. SHARKS (19-3-5)

WHEN: December 5, 2013 - 7:00 p.m. | WHERE: Nassau Coliseum

WATCH: ROOT SPORTS | LISTEN: Penguins Radio 24/7, 105.9 FM

Last 10: San Jose 9-1-0; Pittsburgh 7-2-1 Season series: This is the first of two games between the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins during the regular season. They haven't met in over two years, since a 4-3 shootout win by the Sharks on Nov. 3, 2011. Evgeni Malkin of the Penguins had two goals and an assist in a losing effort. Big story: Could this be a Stanley Cup Final preview? The Penguins have won four in a row to pass the rival Boston Bruins for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Pacific Division-leading Sharks started a four-game road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs by extending their own win streak to six. The winner Thursday will join the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks as the second NHL team to 20 wins. Team Scope: Sharks: Brad Stuart's third goal of the season was also his third game-winner as San Jose doubled up Toronto 4-2 on Tuesday. That ties Tommy Wingels for the team lead. In his career, 21 of Stuart's 77 goals are game-winners, or 27 percent. Now the Sharks get a crack at the Penguins, and it's a game Tyler Kennedy is looking forward to in particular. Acquired at the 2013 NHL Draft for a second-round pick, Kennedy, who played six seasons and won a Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh while helping Sidney Crosby rack up the points, will now be tasked with helping his team keep No. 87 off the board. "Don't give him much room. That's the biggest thing," Kennedy said in the San Jose Mercury News. "And you've got to make sure he plays in their end more than he does in our end. No matter what guy you play in hockey, if he's in his own end, he's not a threat." Penguins: It was an optional skate for Pittsburgh on Wednesday after they returned home from a 3-2 overtime win against the New York Islanders on Tuesday. The Penguins yielded a pair of first-period goals to Kyle Okposo and didn't get on the board until James Neal's power-play goal with 15.6 seconds left in the second period, but Crosby had some late heroics up his sleeve.

In the third, he took an Evgeni Malkin feed and one-timed a power-play goal at the eight-minute mark, forcing OT. In the extra period, he stole the puck from Thomas Vanek, split a pair of Isles defenders and put home the winner with 1:16 remaining. "We battled back and forth between playing the right way and getting away from it, but the bottom line is, we found a way to win," Neal said in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "And it's good for our team to be able to do that." Who's hot: Joe Thornton has three goals and five assists during a six-game point streak for the Sharks. Logan Couture has two goals and three assists during a three-game point streak. … Malkin has four goals and 15 assists during a nine-game points streak for the Penguins. Crosby has six goals and seven assists in the past nine games. Crosby (38) and Malkin (37) are 1-2 in the League in points. Neal has eight goals and six assists in his past eight games. Injury report: San Jose forwards Raffi Torres (knee) and Adam Burish (lower body) are on injured reserve. … Pittsburgh goalie Tomas Vokoun (blood clot), defensemen Rob Scuderi (broken ankle) and Paul Martin (fractured tibia) and forwards Chuck Kobasew (lower body), Beau Bennett (wrist/hand) and Tanner Glass (broken hand) are on injured reserve.

Emotional Return for Kennedy

By Michelle Crechiolo

Tyler Kennedy knows Taylor Swift is trouble.

A few years ago, he and a few of his teammates attended the singer’s concert at Mellon Arena and presented her with a personalized jersey after the show – where a now infamous photo was taken to commemorate the moment. All of the guys posing with Swift – Max Talbot, Jordan Staal, Alex Goligoski and Kennedy – are now with different teams.

Kennedy’s longtime linemate Matt Cooke is also no longer with the Penguins, meaning that third line of Cooke, Staal and Kennedy that was such an important part of the team’s 2009 championship run is no more. And Kennedy joked that the “Taylor Swift curse” may be partly to blame.

“Maybe it was that Taylor Swift thing,” Kennedy laughed. “I don't think I'll be going to any concerts in San Jose with Taylor Swift, that's for sure.”

Kennedy was relaxed, open, honest and funny as he spoke to the media on Wednesday afternoon from an unfamiliar area of a familiar building – the visitors’ locker room – as he prepares for a big moment: playing the Penguins for the first time in his career.

He admitted that returning to Pittsburgh for the first time since being traded to San Jose for a second-round pick at the 2013 NHL Draft is “definitely a little bit of an emotional roller coaster.”

“I was here for six years and it was a great six years,” he continued. “I think I really grew as a person and as a player. Pittsburgh was like a second home to me, so it means a lot to be back here and I am excited to be back here.”

Guys face their former teams all the time, but Kennedy’s one of those special players as he was a homegrown talent that helped them to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals. The Penguins drafted him in the fourth round back in 2004 and developed him into a solid NHLer during his seven total seasons with the organization (six with Pittsburgh after one with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton). Kennedy finished with 168 points (76G-92P) in 372 career regular-season games for the Penguins.

And in turn, Kennedy played a big role in helping the Penguins win the championship in 2009, recording three game-winning tallies among his five postseason goals. He scored the game-winner in Pittsburgh’s Game 6 win against Detroit that forced the Game 7 where the Penguins eventually clinched the franchise’s third Cup. Kennedy will forever have a special bond with the guys he won with, and all of that made it tough to head West even though he knew it was time for him to move on.

“There’s a lot of great friends over there, a lot of guys who went through the wall for each other,” Kennedy said of his former teammates over in the locker room he used to call home. “It was an emotional day leaving Pittsburgh, leaving a lot of good buddies over there. Pittsburgh is such a great city; I think the fans are passionate. They are great people. Just walking around people will say, 'Hey Kennedy, what's up?' Something that is nice to see and that I will hold close to me for a long time.”

But it wasn’t just the highs, including meeting his now-fiancée Brandi, that made it tough to leave; it was what he learned during the lows.

“The Winter Classic, the Stanley Cup, met my future wife here, that is a big thing too,” he said. “But also just the little things, going through the ups and downs with a team. I had my ups but even the struggles were something as a process that you never forget. You get there and you know how to get through it. I think a lot of people helped me through my career here and not just the hockey people. I learned a lot of things when I was here in Pittsburgh and I have a lot of people to thank.”

While Kennedy reminisced about his time in Pittsburgh, his former coach shared his favorite memories of winger known for his energy, tenacity and affinity to shoot the puck – which he expects to see in the game on Thursday.

“I’ve been coaching ‘TK’ and with TK in Wilkes-Barre and here in Pittsburgh for a long time,” Dan Bylsma said. “He’s seen me grow as a coach. I’ve seen him grow as a player. … I have a lot of fond memories. He’s scored some big goals. His goal in Game 6 against Detroit (in the 2009 Stanley Cup Final) in Mellon Arena was a big goal. Some memorable fisticuffs from him at times. He’ll be revved up and ready to go (Thursday).”

Despres Improving His Consistency

By Dave Uhrmacher

Every year that Penguins defenseman Simon Despres has played organized hockey, his team has gone on to play in the postseason.

That includes four straight trips to the playoffs with the Saint John Sea Dogs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, one trip to the AHL playoffs with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2011-12 and finally a trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs last season with Pittsburgh.

If the steady play of Despres since his recall on Nov. 27 is any indication of where this Penguins team is headed, that streak will continue in April.

Despres, 22, has played a key role at even strength and on special teams in four games with the Penguins. And even though he has not recorded a point, Pittsburgh just keeps winning.

“I love winning,” Despres said. “I have always been on winning teams. It is fun. Everything is better when you are winning. And that is what we try to do every game, just keep a competitive atmosphere and win games.”

Despres made his season debut on Nov. 27, a 6-5 shootout victory over Toronto. Including that night, the Penguins have reeled off four-straight wins and Despres has been outstanding while filling the void left by injured defensemen Paul Martin and Rob Scuderi.

“I think I have been playing good defensively,” Despres said. “Consistency was a key for me when I was sent down. They wanted me to play really well consistently. I think that is what I have been doing since my call up to Pittsburgh.”

The former first-round pick was sent to Wilkes-Barre following training camp to work on refining the defensive aspects of his game. The organization knew when they drafted him 30th

overall in 2009 that Despres would bring an offensive element on the back end, but consistently performing in his own zone was something head coach Dan Bylsma and his staff wanted to see more of.

“He has shown he can defend,” Bylsma said. “Two years ago against Alex Ovechkin in a call-up game he played really well. It really is the consistency of doing that game in and game out, shift-to-shift against good players. It is not just defending. It is doing it with the puck, and executing. And that has really been something he has done really well this year in Wilkes-Barre. They rave about the consistency in his game in a defensive, shutdown role for Simon.”

The consistent play at a high-level was also evident in the statistics Despres put up prior to joining Pittsburgh this season. Despres was tied for the AHL lead in plus-minus rating (+13) while playing in only even strength and penalty kill situations, and recorded 11 points in 17 games under the tutelage of head coach John Hynes.

“My first instinct right now is be in position defensively,” Despres said. “I am better at reading the play and knowing when to jump in rushes. Just little stuff like that in my third year I have developed. Being consistent throughout the year is what separates the AHLers from the NHLers, and that is what I am trying to do.”

Despres is doing the right things paired with Matt Niskanen on the back end, as the Penguins are 33-7 in games No. 47 has suited up for dating back to last season.

The Laval, Quebec-native knows the winning pedigree and improved consistency aren’t enough to hold down a spot on a crowded blue line, but he is ready to fight for it.

“There is no relaxing,” Despres said. “No guarantee that I will be in the lineup. I have to prove it every day and every game. Just keep trying to help the team win.”

U.S. National Junior Team Preliminary Roster has Pittsburgh, Pens Connections

By Michelle Crechiolo

Local product Riley Barber may get the chance to help Team USA defend its gold medal at the World Junior Championship and represent Pittsburgh on the international stage once again.

On Wednesday, the Pittsburgh native was named to the preliminary roster for the 2014 U.S. National Junior Team that will participate in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2013-Jan. 5, 2014, in Malmo, Sweden.

A year ago, Barber and three other kids that also spent time developing in the Pittsburgh youth hockey system – goalie John Gibson and forwards J.T. Miller and Vince Trocheck – helped Team USA win a gold medal at the 2013 World Junior Championship with their 3-1 win over Sweden in Ufa, Russia and showcased the tremendous growth of the sport in Western Pennsylvania.

Barber – whose dad, former NHLer Don Barber, coached him and his three Team USA teammates at the Pittsburgh Hornets – finished the tournament with six points (3G-3A) in seven games.

While the other three have all turned professional – Miller has played 15 games with the New York Rangers this season, the team that made him the highest-drafted Pittsburgh born-and-trained player when they took him 15th overall in 2011; Anaheim Ducks prospect Gibson is dominating in the American Hockey League for the Norfolk Admirals; and Florida Panthers prospect Trocheck has 18 points in 21 games with San Antonio – Barber is in his sophomore season with the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks. The 2012 sixth-round draft pick of the Washington Capitals is tied for third in the country with 15 points.

There are a few other notable names with Penguins connections on Team USA’s preliminary roster.

Henrik Samuelsson, who is the son of former Penguin Ulf Samuelsson and the brother of Philip Samuelsson, a 2009 second-round pick of the Penguins currently with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, is looking to make his first U.S. National Junior Team.

Henrik may have inherited his size from his dad (6-foot-3, 205 pounds), but not his position. The forward, drafted by Phoenix in the first round (27th overall) back in 2012, has 10 goals and 33 points in 25 games for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League.

Ryan Fitzgerald, the son of Penguins assistant to the general manager Tom Fitzgerald, was also named to Team USA’s preliminary roster in hopes of playing in his first World Junior Championship. The forward has earned consideration after a strong start to his freshman season at Boston College, as he’s on a point-per-game pace with 7 goals and 7 assists in 14 contests.

Fitzgerald was named the MVP of the first annual CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game in 2012, which the Penguins hosted this September. Fans in the area got a chance to watch the brightest American talent on the cusp of being drafted and becoming high-profile and well-known, and a couple of those players are also on this roster: goaltender Thatcher Demko and forward Tony DeAngelo.

Both helped Team Johnson to a 5-2 victory over Team Mullen in that game, as starting goaltender Demko (Boston College) was flawless in 28:23 of action, stopping all six shots he

faced, and Philadelpia native DeAngelo collected a pretty assist on the power-play when he made a no-look pass that resulted in a goal.

The 26 total players will participate in a training camp Dec. 15-18 at the University of Minnesota's Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis, with preparations continuing in Angelholm, Sweden, before the final 23-man roster is announced on Dec. 23. The U.S. will play three games before the start of the IIHF World Junior Championship, including Dec. 17 against Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minn., and contests in Angelholm vs. Finland on Dec. 20 and Sweden on Dec. 22.

Past U.S. stars know no miracles necessary in 2014

By Adam Kimelman - NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor

As young hockey players, Bill Guerin and Doug Weight were drawn to hockey in part to the success of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" United States Olympic hockey team.

Today, though, both know that no miracle would be needed for the U.S. to win the gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

"I think where we are now with USA Hockey, I don't think it would be a miracle anymore and I don't think it would shock the world," Guerin said Monday, prior to his induction into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. "That's the position USA Hockey has put itself in. We go not only to compete but to win. We expect to win."

Guerin did his share of winning at the Olympic level. He played for the U.S. at the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Olympics, winning a silver medal in 2002.

Weight was his teammate on all three teams, and shared Guerin's enthusiasm for a strong American showing in Russia.

"I feel like we should be right in the hunt as far as the talks of at the very least medaling and having a chance to win this tournament," he said. "Obviously Canada can probably put together two teams that can compete against each other and have a heck of a time. They're unbelievable, but we've proven that it's not just a freak thing to beat them. Now we're excited to be able to compete with the great nations."

Their playing days behind them, Guerin and Weight now work in player development -- Guerin is the Pittsburgh Penguins' director of player development while Weight is an assistant coach and senior advisor to the general manager for the New York Islanders. From their vantage points, they see a deep, talented field of players for USA Hockey to select from.

"I'm thrilled about the guys that are going to be going over there," Guerin said. "They've got skill, they've got grit, they've got character. I think it's going to be a great Olympics."

One difference that could come into play is the larger ice surface for the 2014 Olympics. No North American team has won a medal in games played outside North America (1998, Nagano, Japan; 2006, Turin, Italy).

"There's different strategies and different angles, different ways to run your special teams, your goaltending, how you play the puck," Weight said. "There's personnel. … You can have all great players, but you have to find places for them to play and you have to find people that can do well on that big sheet because it is a long tournament. Two weeks doesn't seem long, but you have to have a great system in place and you have to be able to use that extra ice wisely. Whether that's not using and defending smarter or changing certain things, you have to have a game plan on the big sheet."

Guerin, however, doesn't believe the larger international ice surface will play that large a factor in the success or failure of the American team.

"We just have to go over there and play," he said. "We have to do it on the big ice. It can happen. North American teams have won on the big ice before. The game doesn't change, it's just a little bigger rink."

---

Sharks-Penguins Preview

By JEFF BARTL (STATS Writer)

Now that teams in opposite conferences are guaranteed two meetings per season, the San Jose Sharks may not mind seeing more of the Pittsburgh Penguins than they have in recent years.

San Jose seeks a seventh straight victory as it continues a four-game road trip Thursday night against a Pittsburgh team looking for a fifth consecutive win.

The Sharks have faced the Penguins only 17 times over the last 15 years, going 14-1-1 with one tie in those contests. They're 8-0-1 in the series since Pittsburgh's 4-1 victory Nov. 23, 2002, winning the most recent meeting 4-3 in a shootout Nov. 3, 2011.

The league's divisional realignment brought an agreement that Eastern and Western Conference teams will play on each other's home ice each season, meaning the Sharks and Penguins will get to see more of each other.

San Jose (19-3-5) enters the latest matchup on quite a roll after beating Toronto 4-2 on Tuesday. Joe Thornton scored and Dan Boyle had two assists for the Sharks, who overcame a sloppy first 10 minutes to earn another victory.

They've scored at least four goals four times during their streak.

"It was actually embarrassing for a little while how we were playing," coach Todd McLellan said. "At least we got our game back."

Boyle and Joe Pavelski earned an assist on Thornton's first-period goal, which came on a 5-on-3 advantage. San Jose went 2 for 22 on the power play in its previous six contests.

"It's always nice winning your last home game before (a road trip)," Pavelski said. "Definitely didn't have our 'A' game (Tuesday), but guys did a good job battling."

The Sharks are 9-2-3 away from home and tied for the fewest regulation road defeats in the league, though they'll now face a Penguins team that has won four straight at home.

Pittsburgh (19-9-1) has the most points in the East after finishing a perfect three-game road trip by beating the New York Islanders 3-2 in overtime Tuesday. Sidney Crosby scored the tying goal with 12 minutes left in the third, then weaved through multiple defenders to pot the winner unassisted.

"It was a highlight-reel goal and we¹ll see it again I'm sure," coach Dan Bylsma said. "The work ethic, backcheck battle, wins the puck, it didn't look like good odds at that point in time. He cut through the defense and that puck found a way."

Crosby's two goals were one more than he had over his previous five games, though his 38 points (15 goals, 23 assists) lead the league by one over teammate Evgeni Malkin (seven goals, league-best 30 assists).

Crosby and James Neal scored with the man advantage Tuesday as the Penguins went 2 for 5 on the power play. They've converted 11 of 25 such situations over the team's 6-1-1 stretch and lead the NHL with a 26.0 percent success rate.

"The last couple games we've played some good hockey," winger Pascal Dupuis said. "We're not giving the opponent too much."

Marc-Andre Fleury has stopped 42 of 44 shots while winning his last two starts, and he should be in net again for this contest. He's 1-2-2 with a 2.84 goals-against average in five career starts against San Jose.

Antti Niemi has a 1.95 GAA while starting each contest during the Sharks' winning streak.

Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks Take Different Paths to Division Leads

The Sharks Are Deep, but Pittsburgh's Special Teams Excel. Whose Got the Edge in Thursday's East-West Match?

By James A. Conley

COMMENTARY | Much has been made about the disparity between the NHL's conferences this season. Thursday, two of the top teams in their respective divisions will face off in Pittsburgh, as the East-leading Penguins take on the Pacific Division-leading San Jose Sharks.

Pittsburgh (19-9-1, 39 points) led the Eastern Conference in points as of Wednesday morning, in addition to holding a 9-point lead over the Washington Capitals in the [next synonym for awful] Metropolitan Division.

San Jose, by contrast, is out front despite playing in hockey's tightest group. The Sharks (19-3-5, 43 points) have won six straight and hold the lead in the Pacific Division, which also includes the Phoenix Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks and LA Kings, making for one of hockey's toughest division races.

Though they rank similarly and are separated by just four points, the Sharks and Pens have taken different paths to the top of their divisions.

Pittsburgh's lead has been built primarily on special teams, where a rejuvenated penalty kill has worked to support the league's top power play (26.0 percent). San Jose has found success with a more balanced game, ranking near the top of the league in scoring and goal prevention despite middling success on special teams.

When the teams meet Thursday, they'll be matching different sets of strengths.

The Penguins have played well of late, running off four-straight wins to move back atop the Conference. Their nine-point division lead is the largest 1-2 margin in hockey. Of course, playing in hockey's worst division doesn't hurt.

At the moment, the Pens' four-straight wins mark the second-longest winning streak in the league. The longest? The Sharks, who've run off six and counting.

How have these teams built their current stretches of success? For Pittsburgh, it's been all about special teams.

-The Penguins have 7 power play goals over their four-game streak, converting on half of their 14 chances. That stretch has moved them to 26 percent on the year, best in the NHL. No team has scored more power play goals than Pittsburgh's 26. -The penalty kill, too, has been solid.

They've killed 10 of 12 chances in their last four games (83 percent) and 27 out of 30 (90 percent) in their last 10 games, over which span they have a record of 7-2-1. -On the year, the Penguins have the top-ranked PP unit (26.0 percent) and 6th-ranked PK unit (85.5 percent), one of the best combined special teams group in hockey. The Penguins power play is a who's-who of offensive all-stars, with two Olympic locks in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and legitimate hopefuls in James Neal, Chris Kunitz and defenders Kris Letang & Paul Martin, who have split time on the top unit.

San Jose doesn't want for star power of its own. However, the Sharks have won with balanced contribution up and down their lineup and stellar play at even-strength.

-The Sharks rank second in hockey in goals per game at 3.44 goals per game. Their 68 even-strength goals scored are third-most in hockey, behind only Chicago and Anaheim. -Their goal prevention is similarly strong. The Sharks have allowed just 58 goals this year, fourth-best in hockey despite a penalty kill that ranks 16th in the league. -San Jose is balanced. They've got five skaters with 20 or more points, 11 with 10 or more points and only two skaters with a negative plus-minus rating. Given their successes, Pittsburgh and San Jose should be good for another tight contest. Four of their last six meetings have gone to overtime or a shootout , with San Jose winning five of those six games.

Overall, the West is dominating the East this season. Counting overtime losses as losses, and not as the vague, conceptual non-losses that exist only in the NHL, Pittsburgh is one of only two Eastern Conference teams (4-2-0) with a winning record against West opponents this season .

Meanwhile, the Sharks have crushed East opponents this year with an 8-1-1 record against the opposite conference.

Pittsburgh and Boston are the only two teams to assert themselves in the East this year. Meanwhile, it seems that all but two teams in the West could conceivably end their year with a playoff berth.

Pitting some of the best of each conference against one another should provide a good barometer of where each team really stands.

Trip to St. John's will challenge Penguins on, off the ice

BY JONATHAN BOMBULIE (STAFF WRITER)

WILKES-BARRE - It might not seem like it, given Newfoundland's remote location in the Atlantic Ocean off the eastern coast of Canada, but a visit to St. John's is one of the most attractive road trips for players in the AHL.

It's a hip town with an old-world feel, scenic vistas and plenty of history. It's also home to George Street, which has more bars and pubs per square foot than any location in North America, many of which are open until the early hours of the morning.

And George Street is just a stone's throw from the arena and hotels where visiting teams stay.

Therefore, trips to St. John's are often a good test of an AHL team's professionalism.

In recent years, that's a test the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have passed. They haven't had a public off-the-ice incident since the infamous Nathan Smith streaking case in Scranton in 2008.

When presented with that fact, Penguins coach John Hynes immediately scrambled for some wood to knock on. Then he described his philosophy regarding player behavior.

"Part of being a young player and part of hockey is going out and enjoying yourself and having team functions. It brings guys together," Hynes said. "In those environments, you need to have your captains and your older guys and your team leaders keep things under control.

"They get their time. They understand it's their time, but it's also a business trip and they're representing our organization. I think it's been a combination of the standards we have here and we've always had quality leadership."

The nightlife on George Street isn't the only potential pitfall for teams visiting St. John's, as the Penguins will for games Friday and Saturday.

Another is travel. St. John's isn't the easiest location to get to, and a day of bus trips and flights can run a team down.

To combat that, the Penguins split up their travel this week. They bused to Toronto on Tuesday evening and flew to St. John's on Wednesday morning, scheduling two practices and a morning skate before Friday's game.

"We wanted to take the whole, full day of flying out and then with delays and things like that at this time of year, even if we get delayed, we should be fine," Hynes said.

Another potential stumbling block for road teams in St. John's is the schedule. This weekend, the Penguins will be facing the same team on back-to-back days for just the third time this season. The Ice Caps do that several times a month.

It's a schedule that lends itself to splits. The Ice Caps have played seven sets of back-to-backs this season and have split six of them.

"It's tough to sweep because it's just human nature. One team wins and you feel good and the other team is a little bit ornery," Hynes said. "And the other thing is, in today's day and age, there are so many good coaches and there are adjustments. You don't catch a team by surprise the second night. It's usually a hard-fought weekend."

Penguins defenseman Brendan Mikkelson faced a similar situation when he played for the AHL's westernmost team, the Abbotsford Heat, in 2011-12.

"We always had teams coming in for back-to-backs," he said. "It's almost like a mini-playoff series in some respects. If you're the road team, like when you're in a playoff series, you talk about getting a split in the other team's rink and then winning your home games."

San Jose Sharks hoping to keep Penguins' Sidney Crosby off scoreboard again

By David Pollak

PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby is about to play his 500th game in the NHL, but only four have been against the Sharks. That helps explain why he never has scored a goal against San Jose.

Crosby gets a fifth chance in his milestone game Thursday when the Pittsburgh Penguins meet the Sharks in a matchup of division leaders.

If the Sharks are looking for tips on how to keep Crosby off the scoresheet again, they have a pretty valuable resource on their own bench. Tyler Kennedy was a Penguin -- and occasionally a linemate of Crosby's -- for six seasons before being acquired by San Jose for a second-round pick at the 2013 entry draft. And, yes, he has been looking forward to this return.

"It's exciting," he said

this week. "I've got some great memories. My fiancee is from there. I have a lot of good friends outside hockey there. It was a great place to live, a great place to start my career."

Then he returns to the present.

"But," he added, "I think to come to San Jose was the right move for my career personally."

Kennedy's time in Pittsburgh ended awkwardly. He was a healthy scratch during the playoffs, the odd man out after general manager Ray Shero loaded up on veterans Jarome Iginla and Brenden Morrow in a go-for-broke move at the trade deadline that didn't pay off.

Still, Kennedy brushed off the suggestion he might be extra motivated to show the Penguins what they are missing.

"I don't know about that," he said. "Obviously you want to play your best every game, but I'm not too worried about what they think anymore. I'm more worried about what Todd (McLellan) and our coaching staff has to say more than trying to prove something.

"I have nothing to prove. I'd been there for six or seven years. They know what I can do," added Kennedy, who had 76 goals and 92 assists in his 372 games as a Penguin.

Wednesday, Kennedy held court with the Pittsburgh media. He talked about his new life -- the improved weather, the more challenging travel -- and his final days with his old team, noting that he parted on good terms.

And he agreed with the idea that Crosby, whose 38 points lead the NHL in scoring, is definitely on his game these days.

"And when Sid's on, he's on. He does that little bit extra," Kennedy said, adding, "I think we have the guys in here to stop him. It should be a good challenge for him and our team."

Any specific advice he can pass along to his new teammates about Crosby?

"Don't give him much room. That's the biggest thing," Kennedy said. "And you've got to make sure he plays in their end more than he does in our end. No matter what guy you play in hockey, if he's in his own end, he's not a threat."

Kennedy, 27, has found a home at left wing on the Sharks third line centered by Joe Pavelski. His 11 points in 27 games already match his total in 46 games with the Penguins last season, but Kennedy isn't satisfied.

"Obviously I wish my numbers were better, but I think that comes a little bit with a change, coming to a new team," he said.

Numbers aside, Kennedy was acquired for his style of play, which meshes with what the Sharks are finding success with.

And, McLellan said Wednesday, Kennedy has not disappointed.

"We thought he was a piece that could come in and play the way we wanted our team to play, with speed and a little bit of tenacity, hard and committed," McLellan said. "He's done all those things for us to this point."

Beyond a homecoming for Kennedy, the Sharks see the Penguins as a game against one of the NHL's top teams, though not quite the same as similar showdowns on their recent homestand against Western Conference powers.

"A lot of the teams out West are built a certain way, and these guys are built a little differently," Dan Boyle said. "It's going to be a different type of game for us to be involved in. They're one of the best teams in the East. We'll see how it goes."

THURSDAY'S GAME

Sharks (19-3-5) at Pittsburgh (19-9-1), 4 p.m. CSNCA

Kennedy excited to be back in Pittsburgh

Kevin Kurz

PITTSBURGH -- Tyler Kennedy knew it was time to move on from the Penguins organization when he was a healthy scratch for six of 15 playoff games last spring.

Now, he’s back in the town where he spent the first six years of his NHL career, as the Sharks practiced at Consol Energy Center on Wednesday where they will face the powerful Penguins on Thursday night.

“It’s kind of, definitely, a little bit of an emotional roller coaster,” said Kennedy, who was at one point part of an effective third line here with Jordan Staal and Matt Cooke. “I was here for six years, and it was a great six years. I think I really grew as a person, and as a player. Pittsburgh was like a second home to me. It means a lot to be back here.”

Kennedy was not surprised when he was traded to the Sharks in the offseason, relaying that head coach Dan Bylsma and general manager Ray Shero were up front with him in the player meetings that took place after the Penguins lost to Boston in the Eastern Conference finals.

Still, his pride may have taken a bit of a hit in his final days with the Penguins.

“Obviously, not playing kind of hurts you, but you’ve got to remember who you are and you know how to play hockey,” Kennedy said. “It was frustrating when I was sitting out, but that was their decision and obviously it’s something they had to stand by. I’ve obviously moved on. Tomorrow is a new day, just like back then. There [are] no hard feelings.”

Fortunately for the 27-year-old, he’s gone from one team with a recent tradition of excellence, to another, in the Sharks. The Sharks have won their last six games, and are at the top of the NHL standings in terms of winning percentage (.793, 19-3-5, 43 points). The 19-9-1 Penguins lead the Eastern Conference with 39 points.

“I think I’ve been really fortunate to go to another great team and another great coaching staff,” Kennedy said. “There’s a lot of comparisons from San Jose to Pittsburgh. I’ve been really fortunate in my career.”

Kennedy has played in all 27 of the Sharks’ games this year, with three goals and eight assists for 11 points. He’s now playing on a line with Joe Pavelski and Marty Havlat.

He’s scoreless in his last three games, but had a four-game point streak just prior to that.

“I really believe he’s starting to feel comfortable now with our team,” Todd McLellan said.

Kennedy said: “I think it took me a little bit of time to get used to the Western style. I wouldn’t say bang and crash, but it’s a little more physical, I find. I’m really happy in San Jose, and I couldn’t ask for a better spot to be.”

The addition of Kennedy was one of the few changes the Sharks made to their team in the offseason. After finishing the regular season strong and taking the Kings to seven games in the second round, San Jose’s goal was to build on its identity of a hard, fast, straight line team.

Kennedy, a speedy, tenacious player that likes to shoot the puck, fit that mold in general manager Doug Wilson’s eyes. Wilson sent a second round pick to the Penguins in exchange for the rights to Kennedy, and then promptly signed him to a two-year, $4.7 million contract.

Pavelski said: “He plays in straight lines for the most part, shoots it pretty hard, and he’s a gritty player. He isn’t afraid to fight, and kind of get in there and stir it up a little bit. It’s definitely the trend of where this team has been going.”

“I know the guys appreciate his effort night in and night out, and we do as a staff, for sure,” McLellan said.

Kennedy was asked about a now infamous picture among Pittsburgh fans, in which he and teammates Staal, Alex Goligoski and Max Talbot posed with pop star Taylor Swift in 2009. None of them remain with the Penguins.

“I don’t think I’ll be going to any concerts in San Jose with Taylor Swift,” Kennedy said with a smile.

Joking aside, Kennedy is already looking forward to Thursday’s game between two of the best teams in the league.

“I think (my teammates) know (the Penguins) are a great team, and it’s a great test for us, coming out of the West. I think we’re one of the best teams coming out of the West. It’s a great challenge for us, and we’re excited about it.”

Crosby lifts Penguins to OT win before facing Sharks

Staff Writer

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Sidney Crosby went through a cluster of New York Islanders like they weren't even there.

With the puck on his stick in overtime, all he saw was the net. And then he hit it.

Crosby, who scored the tying goal in the third period, netted the winner with a brilliant individual effort 3:44 into overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Tuesday night.

He stole the puck from Thomas Vanek just outside the New York blue line, streaked down the middle between two defenseman and jammed a backhander past Anders Nilsson for his 15th goal.

"The puck just came to me, and I found a way," Crosby said. "I had some time to wind up and get some speed. It was a good situation.

"I didn't notice how many guys were hanging on me. I just went for the net."

Simple enough for Sid the Kid, who had made it 2-all with 12:00 left in regulation by firing in a one-timer from the right circle off a pass from Evgeni Malkin.

Nilsson was the hard-luck loser in overtime for the second straight game. New York, which has dropped seven straight (0-5-2), gave up the lead late to Washington on Saturday and was beaten in overtime on a goal by Alex Ovechkin.

"Every goal you let in is frustrating," said Nilsson, who made 31 saves in his seventh NHL game. "I thought I should have had the winner from Ovi and I should have the winner tonight."

Malkin assisted on power-play goals by James Neal and Crosby to back Marc-Andre Fleury, who made 21 saves. His best stop came on Frans Nielsen's penalty shot in the third when New York led 2-1.

If a standard penalty was called instead of a penalty shot, it would have wiped out the rest of the Penguins' power play that produced the tying goal.

"That definitely might have changed things," Crosby said.

Kyle Okposo scored twice in the first period for the Islanders, who are third from the bottom in the East.

Despite the gap in the standings, the Islanders play the Penguins much tighter on the ice. The teams have split two games in Pittsburgh this season, following the Penguins' six-game, first-round playoff triumph over New York last spring.

"The rivalry is real," Fleury said. "They play us close and really make us work. They are a good team against us just about every time we play them."

The Penguins (19-9-1) moved one point ahead of idle Boston atop the Eastern Conference with their fourth straight win, and completed a 3-0 road trip.

Pittsburgh's potent power play, ranked No. 1 in the NHL, got the Penguins back in the game. Neal connected in the final seconds of the second period, and Crosby tied it in the third.

Nilsson held off the Penguins long enough for New York to salvage a point in the standings. John Tavares assisted on both of Okposo's goals.

"I thought we played very well," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. "We really needed that third one and didn't get it. It's very hard for us to win with two goals.

"It came down to special teams again. My frustration is the same as what the players are feeling because we've all been there."

Okposo hadn't scored in eight games but he broke out with two during a 4:35 span of the first and nearly netted a third before the intermission. He backhanded a shot from the bottom of the left circle into the crease. The puck and Tavares, along with Crosby and Kris Letang of the Penguins all arrived on Fleury's doorstep at the same time. It found its way in off of Letang to make it 1-0 with 7:05 left.

Okposo got even more help on his second goal, which was his eighth of the season. He wound up from above the right circle and ripped a drive that struck Fleury and then squeezed under his left arm before trickling behind him with 2:30 to go.

Pittsburgh had a chance to cut into its deficit late in the frame when Vanek and Aaron Ness took penalties 1:17 apart, giving the Penguins a two-man advantage that lasted the final 37.3 seconds of the first period and 5 seconds of the second.

What Pittsburgh couldn't do in the first, it did in the second when Neal notched a power-play goal with 15.6 seconds left off a feed in front from Malkin, who extended his point and assist streaks to nine games. He has 15 assists and 19 points during the run, earning star of the week and month honors in the NHL.

Neal scored his ninth goal of the season and seventh in six games to make it 2-1. He has 17 points (9 goals, 8 assists) in the last 13 games.

NOTES: Malkin had league-best 25 points and 21 assists in November, the most assists in a month since Wayne Gretzky also had 21 in January 1996. ... The Islanders hadn't scored first in seven games and hadn't held a two-goal lead since a 3-2 loss to Los Angeles on Nov. 14.

Sharks fourth line steps up in win

Kevin Kurz

TORONTO -- Andrew Desjardins set the tone early. Mike Brown gave the Sharks the lead.

San Jose’s fourth line, which also included James Sheppard, wasn’t just effective in the 4-2 win in Toronto on Tuesday night. It was the biggest factor in the Sharks pocketing their sixth win in a row, according to head coach Todd McLellan.

“I thought they were the difference in the game, to tell you the truth,” McLellan said. “Maybe their minutes don’t reflect it, but their energy and the passion which they played with rubbed off on others. When it wasn’t going good, we turned to them to get some energy going, and they did a really good job.”

[RECAP: Sharks 4, Maple Leafs 2]

It started with Desjardins, who was playing in his fourth game after sitting as a healthy scratch on Nov. 23. The center ran over Toronto’s Jerred Smithson nearly six minutes into the first period, and Frazer McLaren’s roughing penalty in retaliation for the hit put San Jose on a power play, which it failed to capitalize on.

Still, the Sharks carried the pace of play after the expired penalty, and took a 1-0 lead when Brown tipped a Jason Demers shot after Desjardins pushed the puck to the point with some good board work.

“The puck went up to Demers, he just shot it, and I just started going to the middle of the net. We’ve been working on tips lately, so I just put my stick down and it basically deflected off

there,” said Brown, who took some time to regularly work his way into the Sharks’ lineup after a trade with Edmonton in mid-October.

Later in the period, Desjardins forced Toronto goalie James Reimer into a turnover behind the net, and the Sharks’ fourth liners hemmed in the Maple Leafs’ top line. Toronto took two more penalties later in the first, and Joe Thornton’s five-on-three goal gave the visitors a 2-0 lead at the break.

McLellan also gave the fourth line credit for the Sharks’ third goal -- the game-winner by Brad Stuart -- in the second period.

"We feel our fourth line has a lot of speed and they hunt pucks. They hem other teams in their zone. … We saw that happen tonight on our third goal, the winning goal. Hemmed them in and hemmed them in, the other team couldn’t get off, and that started with our fourth line doing a good job,” McLellan said.

That wasn’t the case for Toronto’s fourth line, as Stuart’s goal came with Smithson, McLaren and Colton Orr on the ice.

“They’re tired and it’s their fourth line. No disrespect, but maybe you could try things you wouldn’t ordinarily do,” said Stuart, who skated the puck deep into Toronto’s zone before depositing his third goal of the season, off of Smithson’s stick. “We had a lot of good looks on that particular shift, anyway. We were able to get a bounce, and capitalize on it.”

It started with the play of Desjardins, Brown and Sheppard, none of who skated for more than nine minutes.

Brown said: “For us as a fourth line, we’ve got to play that typical, physical, energy, simple game.”