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Penguins-Blues Preview

Oct 23, 2010 - 4:21 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Pittsburgh (5-3-0) at St. Louis (2-1-2), 8:00 p.m. EDT

After a slow start, the Pittsburgh Penguins have turned things around. Their play on the road has helped fuel that recent success.

The St. Louis Blues, meanwhile, have yet to lose at home.

Looking to remain undefeated on the road, the Penguins try for a fifth consecutive victory Saturday night against the Blues.

While Pittsburgh (5-3-0) has won twice in five games at new Consol Energy Center, the Penguins have outscored their opponents 12-5 while going 3-0 on the road.

Pittsburgh is in position to win its first four on the road for the second straight season. St. Louis (3-1-2), however, looks to start 4-0 at home for the first time since opening with six consecutive victories in 2000.

The Penguins will try for a third consecutive victory over the Blues in their first visit to St. Louis since snapping a four-game skid there with a 6-3 win Nov. 1, 2008.

Sidney Crosby had two goals with an assist, Evgeni Malkin added one each and Kris Letang recorded two assists and scored the game winner in Thursday's 4-3 overtime victory at Nashville to open a three-game road trip.

This is Pittsburgh's first extended trip and following a stop at Tampa Bay on Wednesday, coach Dan Bylsma should have a good idea of what his team is about.

"We'll get tested, but it's also a good time to get on the road and see where we're at," Bylsma said.

Thursday's victory proved the Penguins could win the close ones. Pittsburgh was 1-3 in one-goal games prior to that contest.

"It felt more like April or May," Bylsma said. "It was a pretty big game for October."

Crosby has played well in October, totaling six goals and five assists. Malkin has two goals and five assists in his last five games after recording a goal in his first three.

While Malkin has a goal in each of three career games versus St. Louis, Crosby has yet to score, but has four assists in four contests against the Blues.

Though Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 21 Nashville shots for his first win, former Blue Brent Johnson could be in net for this contest.

Johnson, 4-0 with a 1.49 goals-against average, played with St. Louis from 1998-2003. He has faced the Blues once, making 14 saves in a 4-3 loss while with Washington on Oct. 27, 2007.

Fleury, who has a 3.25 GAA this season, is 2-2 with a 2.63 GAA versus the Blues.

The Penguins are guaranteed to see a familiar face no matter who is in net for St. Louis.

Jaroslav Halak, who posted a 2.38 GAA while helping Montreal upset Pittsburgh in seven games of the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, could be back in net after he made 23 saves Friday to improve to 3-1-1.

Backup and former Penguin Ty Conklin is 2-0 with a 1.72 GAA in three games versus Pittsburgh.

David Perron posted his second straight two-goal game, and T.J. Oshie had two assists as the Blues scored twice in the third period to break a tie game and defeat the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks 4-2 on Friday.

"It's huge," said Oshie, who has at least one point in five straight games. "The great teams put away teams in the third period. We've been seeing that lately at home."