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Crosby, Penguins look to bounce back vs. Hurricanes

Dec 4, 2008 - 11:26 AM Pittsburgh (14-6-4) at Carolina (12-11-2), 7:00 pm EST

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Captain Sidney Crosby was bottled up, checked hard and frustrated in the Pittsburgh Penguins' last game.

The 21-year-old Crosby will look to take those frustrations out on the Carolina Hurricanes, who host the Penguins on Thursday.

Crosby had an assist during Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers, who targeted the NHL's biggest star with their aggressive and stingy defense.

Colton Orr shadowed Crosby for much of the contest, delivering multiple checks to the former Hart Trophy winner - including one that baited Brooks Orpik into a double-minor penalty.

Rangers defenseman Marc Staal, the brother of Crosby's teammate Jordan, also unleashed a bone--jarring, open-ice hit on Crosby in the third period to bring the crowd to their feet.

New York also figured out how to stop Crosby, who had six goals and nine points in the previous three game, in the bonus format when all three shooters scored before Crosby's attempt.

The Hurricanes will try to do the same to Crosby, who has 13 goals and 22 assists.

The game also marks the return of Paul Maurice, who coached the Hurricanes -- then Hartford Whalers -- from the 1995-96 season until midway through 2003-04 when he was replaced by Peter Laviolette. Maurice was named coach of the Hurricanes on Wednesday after Laviolette was fired.

In the first contest of its four-game homestand, Carolina suffered a 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Matt Cullen had the lone goal for the Hurricanes, who have lost four of their last five contests.