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Crosby, Penguins welcome Devils in home opener

Oct 11, 2008 - 10:06 AM New Jersey (1-0-0) at Pittsburgh (1-1-0), 7:30 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins take the their act back to the United States.

After a two-game swing in Stockholm, Sweden as part of the NHL Premiere 2008, the Penguins host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday in the their home opener before a sellout crowd for the 68th straight time.

In 2007-08, the Penguins sold out all 41 regular season home games for the first time in franchise history. The club-record sellout streak, which also includes playoff games, dates back to the 2006-07 regular season.

In the first time in league history that two teams began the regular season in Sweden, Crosby registered two assists as Pittsburgh split its two-game series with the Ottawa Senators.

Evgeni Malkin scored and Marc-Andre Fleury made 32 saves, but it was Tyler Kennedy who stole the show in the first game. The 22-year-old center recorded two goals, including the game-winner in overtime of the Penguins' 4-3 triumph on October 4.

On Sunday, Crosby set up a goal by Alex Goligoski, but the Senators rolled to a 3-1 victory.

Much like Pittsburgh, New Jersey was successful in its regular season opener with a 2-1 triumph over the New York Islanders on Friday at the Prudential Center. Martin Brodeur made 25 saves to earn his 539th career victory, placing him within 12 of Patrick Roy's total (551) for first on the all-time list.

Zach Parise, who led the Devils in scoring with 32 goals last season, scored a power-play goal in the first period and Patrik Elias added a tally in the second.

New Jersey looks to avoid an early-season slide, much like the one suffered last season when the Devils went 3-6-1 in their first 10 games of the season.