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Crosby, Penguins to face Lecavalier, Lightning

Jan 18, 2008 - 2:25 PM Tampa Bay (17-24-5) at Pittsburgh (26-16-3) 7:30 pm EST

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Sidney Crosby may be the face of the NHL, but Vincent Lecavalier will be the captain when both players take the ice for the Eastern Conference in the All-Star game.

Crosby looks to get the upper hand when the red-hot Pittsburgh Penguins host Lecavalier and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday.

The reigning Hart Trophy winner, Crosby has led Pittsburgh to wins in eight of its last nine games and a spot at the top of the Atlantic Division alongside the New Jersey Devils.

The Penguins' captain, Crosby has turned in multi-point efforts in seven of those nine games.

Pittsburgh also has benefited from the play of backup goaltender Ty Conklin, who is 10-0-1 with a 1.72 goals-against average since earning the starting job when Marc-Andre Fleury got hurt and Dany Sabourin struggled.

Conklin has allowed one goal or less in six of his last eight starts.

Lecavalier sits tied atop the NHL scoring leaders with Crosby at 63 points, but his offensive output has not translated to team success.

The Lightning are last in the Eastern Conference with just 39 points and own a 5-14-3 mark away from home.

Tampa Bay has lost nine of its last 11 games, and Lecavalier is in the midst of a season-high three-game slump without a point.

Jordan Staal tallied twice for the Penguins in a 4-1 triumph at the Lightning on January 10.