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Neal, Niskanen debuts highlight Penguins-Sharks matchup

Feb 23, 2011 - 3:54 PM (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Penguins have struggled greatly over the past few weeks, but they're hoping a recent trade can help them get back on track.

The Penguins are expected to debut their new acquisitions when they host the streaking San Jose Sharks tonight at CONSOL Energy Center.

With star forward Evgeni Malkin out for the season and captain Sidney Crosby still sidelined with a concussion, the Penguins pulled the trigger Tuesday on a deal to try and help jump-start their offense.

Pittsburgh shipped defenseman Alex Goligoski to Dallas in exchange for forward James Neal and defenseman Matt Niskanen. Neal, who has scored 20-plus goals in all three of his NHL seasons, is the centerpiece of the deal and the 23-year- old is coming off a 27-goal campaign in 2009-10. He had 21 goals and 18 assists in 59 games with the Stars this season.

"If I was ever going to (make this deal) it had to be for the right forward," said Penguins general manager Ray Shero of Neal. "I think we've found that in (Neal), a young, up-and-coming winger. His best days are ahead of him."

Niskanen, 24, has been a staple along Dallas' blue line the past four years. In 45 games this season, he has yet to score a goal and has recorded six assists.

The Penguins have lost six of their last eight games (2-5-1) and they have scored a total of 14 goals over that span. Pittsburgh's latest setback came Monday night against Washington, which blanked the Pens, 1-0, in regulation.

Alex Ovechkin's scored the only goal on Monday and Michal Neuvirth made 39 saves to record his second shutout against the Pens this season.

Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury took a hard-luck loss, allowing only one goal on 24 shots -- Ovechkin's blast from the point on a power play in the second period.

"We controlled just about every aspect of that game, we just couldn't find a way to put the puck in the net," said Pittsburgh forward Mike Rupp.

Penguins defenseman Paul Martin sat out Monday's game with an upper-body injury and is expected to miss tonight's contest as well.

The Sharks picked up their fourth straight win Tuesday night in Detroit and also improved to 13-2-1 in their last 16 games. San Jose earned a 4-3 regulation win in the Motor City, as Devin Setoguchi scored two goals, including the game-winning tally in the third period.

Ryane Clowe and Joe Thornton also lit the lamp for San Jose. Thornton's goal was the 300th of his career, and he added two assists. Antti Niemi made 35 saves in the victory.

"He's skating real well," Thornton said of Setoguchi, who had a hat trick in Saturday's win against Colorado. "He's getting to goal-scorers' spots and he's finishing. So we'd like for him to stay hot like this because it's a real luxury for us."

All told, Setoguchi has six goals over his last four games. He has never scored in two career games against Pittsburgh.

San Jose defenseman Kent Huskins (questionable) and forward Scott Nichol (upper body) are questionable for tonight's game.

The Sharks and Pens last met on Nov. 7 of last season in San Jose and Pittsburgh was dealt a 5-0 setback. It was the sixth win in San Jose's last seven games against the Penguins overall, but San Jose has lost two of its last three in the Steel City.

Pittsburgh is 20-11-1 as the home club this season, while the Sharks are 19-11-3 on the road.