FSN, the exclusive rights holder to Pittsburgh Penguins regional hockey game telecasts, announced today it will telecast a minimum of 71 contests in the 2010-11 National Hockey League regular season, all of which will be produced and available in high definition. FSN begins its telecasts season on Sat., October 9 when the Penguins host the Montreal Canadiens at the Consol Energy Center. Penguins FACEOFF Presented by Trib Total Media LIVE from the new arena is set for 6:30pm.

“FSN Pittsburgh and the Penguins are coming off our highest rated regular season and playoff year of all time on the network. We look forward to celebrating the opening of the arena, this new era in Penguins hockey and more record breaking ratings with the team, our partners and the fans this fall,” said FSN Senior Vice President & General Manager Ted Black.

All 82 of the Penguins NHL games will be televised with a minimum 71 games regionally on FSN Pittsburgh. Versus plans to carry seven games nationally highlighted by the season’s home opener on October 7. In addition, the Penguins can be selected for up to four regular season games on NBC, including the 2011 Winter Classic at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The NHL will offer flexible scheduling again this season for NBC.

Paul Steigerwald and Bob Errey return as the voices of Penguins Hockey on FSN. Before every game, FSN will feature Penguins FACEOFF Presented by Trib Total Media with StarKist Penguins Postgame wrapping up the live event telecast. FSN will continue the popular Penguins Instant Replay, a two-hour replay of the game, as well as the 30-minute Penguins Rewind for most games this season.

Pens Full Regular Season Schedule

From NHL.com:

Here’s a look at some of the best debut seasons ever by players who made their debut as 18-year-olds or in the first season immediately after turning pro:

Sidney Crosby
Birthday: Aug. 7, 1987
Drafted: No. 1 in 2005 by Pittsburgh
2005-06: 39-63-102

Crosby was the most heralded junior player in decades, and the Penguins won a lottery after the work stoppage to obtain the No. 1 pick in the 2005 Entry Draft they used to take him.

Crosby quickly showed why he was so highly regarded, becoming one of only seven players to reach the 100-point mark in his rookie season — and only the fourth to do so as an 18-year-old (the third to do it in his first season after being drafted). Given the reduction in scoring that had taken place since the 1980s, it can be argued that Crosby’s rookie season was the most impressive by a first-year player of any age in the 40-plus years since expansion.

Though the Penguins had finished last in the overall standings in 2003-04 before landing Crosby, they were only marginally better (29th overall) with him in the lineup. But three years later, Crosby and the rebuilt Penguins finished their season as Stanley Cup champions.

The NHL revealed the 2011 All Star Game logo on Monday & also reported that the tallest building in Raleigh, the RBC Plaza on Fayetteville St., will display a 5,000 square-foot window treatment promoting All-Star Weekend.

Although neither the media nor the general public were on hand to witness Penguins Hall of Fame owner Mario Lemieux and team captain Sidney Crosby participating in the first skate on the ice at CONSOL Energy Center with a group of several young children on Tuesday afternoon, the monumental occasion was watched by a few hundred lucky observers.

When Lemieux and Crosby simultaneously hit the ice at 2 p.m. they were greeted by an audience of construction workers who had congregated to the far side of the arena’s main concourse level with cell phone cameras in hand to document this arena first.

Needless to say, having the chance to watch arguably the franchise’s two biggest icons sharing a slab of together for the first time since December of 2005, especially in such a private setting and milestone event, was something each construction worker felt privileged to be a part of.

“I mean who else would you pick to do this?” said Kurt Amundsen, one of the arena architects for Populous. “It’s pretty obvious who the best choices were. It’s nice getting to see the past, present and future of the team all wrapped up in two guys. This is a historical moment for the city and the team and it is an honor to be a part of it.”
Continue reading »

Despite the myriad of incredible moments that already litter his still-young NHL career, Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby takes little for granted.

He understands he has been blessed with the opportunity to play in the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, his second such game in the four-year history of the New Year’s Day hockey spectacle.

Crosby was the star of the inaugural Winter Classic in 2008, scoring the deciding goal against host Buffalo in a shootout through a snow squall at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Now, he gets a chance to top that iconic moment this New Year’s Day when his Penguins host the rival Washington Capitals at Heinz Field.

Throughout a question-and-answer session with reporters Tuesday, Crosby repeatedly stressed how fortunate he and his teammates are to take part in another installment of what has become the signature event of the NHL regular season.

Crosby also talked about the white-hot rivalry these two teams have developed over the past six years, his thoughts on playing in the home of the Steelers and the odds of him being a successful football player.

Q: Your thoughts on playing here Jan. 1?

CROSBY: It’s a huge crowd, and to see the ice out here, it looks kind of small. Obviously all the focus is on the game, so it’s an exciting time. To have that and be at home, we feel pretty lucky.
Continue reading »

The Penguins unveiled their Winter Classic logo, which is the original logo from the team’s inaugural season in 1967.

Even though the Penguins and their fans have known for months that the city of Pittsburgh and Heinz Field will be hosting the 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic, the NHL and all the combined parties came together with an official announcement on the field Tuesday afternoon.

On the grass at the center of the Steelers’ home stadium, a podium was erected as the top brass for the NHL, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Steelers and local government officials gathered for the announcement.

“I can speak for (Penguins owners) Mario (Lemieux) and Ron Burkle, about how excited we are for the Penguins to be hosting the Winter Classic,” Penguins president David Morehouse said. “Pittsburgh has always been a great sports town, and it’s always been a football town. But with the help of Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby and all the players over the past few years with the Penguins, and with the official announcement of hosting the Winter Classic, Pittsburgh has now become a hockey town, and it will always be a hockey town.”
Continue reading »