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Crosby, Penguins look for fourth straight win

Oct 25, 2007 - 2:06 PM Toronto (3-4-3) at Pittsburgh (5-3-0) 7:30 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Sidney Crosby has only scored against one team this season. Unfortunately for the Toronto Maple Leafs, it is them.

Crosby will hope to continue his seven-game point streak as the Pittsburgh Penguins go for their fourth consecutive win when they host the Maple Leafs on Thursday.

The 20-year-old Crosby scored his only two goals of the season in the Penguins' 6-4 victory over the Maple Leafs on October 13. The reigning Hart Trophy winner still leads the team with eight assists and 10 points.

After being held point-less in the season opener, Crosby has registered at least one point in his last seven contests.

It has been the solid play of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury that has propelled Pittsburgh to its recent success. The 22-year-old Fleury has turned aside 66 of the 67 shots he has faced over the last two contests - both wins.

He is coming off a 36-save shutout against the New York Rangers on Tuesday. Fleury has posted a 4-3-0 record with a 2.98 goals-against average this season.

Fleury will face a talented a Toronto offense led by captain Mats Sundin, who has scored six goals and a team-high 17 points on the campaign. Sundin has collected three goals and four assists over the previous three games.

Despite Sundin's success, the Maple Leafs have not been thriving. Toronto has lost four of its last five contests, but little blame can be put on the offense, which has tallied 19 goals over that stretch.

The Maple Leafs defense has left little to be desired, surrendering an NHL-worst 35.4 shots per game this season. Neither Vesa Toskala or Andrew Raycroft has been up to the task in goal.

The newly-acquired Toskala is 2-3-1 with a 3.95 GAA, while Raycroft has posted a 1-1-2 record with a 3.64 GAA this season.

Keep your eye on Nik Antropov, who is on pace for a career year. Antropov, who has never had more than 18 goals or 45 points in a season, has already lit the lamp a team-leading seven times and help set up five more tallies.