Penguins at Oilers
THE STORY: Running the Western Canada gauntlet is tough even for Western Conference teams. The Pittsburgh Penguins have made it look easy so far, and will be looking for a three-game sweep as they visit Edmonton on Sunday in the Oilers' season opener. It'll mark the third straight game in which the Penguins have watched the opposing team celebrate its home opener, but the first two games have worked out well for Pittsburgh. They've outscored Vancouver and Calgary 7-3 despite playing without franchise superstar Sidney Crosby, who remains sidelined with a concussion but may return before the month is out. Edmonton looks to erase the memory of a difficult 2010-11 season in which several young players showed promise, but the club still wound up well out of a playoff spot.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, 261, RSW
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (2-0-0): Scoring depth made Pittsburgh dangerous last season despite playing without Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for major chunks of the season, and that share-the-wealth mindset has been on display through the first two games of 2011-12. Five different players had goals in Saturday's 5-3 triumph over the Flames, and seven players have two or more points so far. Four of the club's seven goals have come on the power play.
ABOUT THE OILERS: Fans who enjoy watching the development of young players should immediately scoop Oilers season tickets. Edmonton will trot out one of the youngest rosters in the NHL this season, highlighted by 2011 top pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The 18-year-old will immediately step into a critical role on the club, centring returnee Ryan Smyth and the emerging Jordan Eberle on the second line. Fellow No. 1 pick Taylor Hall will join Shawn Horcoff and Ales Hemsky on the top line.
OVERTIME:
1. Pittsburgh won the only meeting between the clubs last season, rolling to a 5-1 triumph behind two goals from Chris Kunitz. The Penguins have won the last four meetings overall.
2. The Penguins haven't opened a season with three straight wins since 1994-95, when the club reeled off seven consecutive victories to kick off the lockout-shortened campaign.
3. The Oilers have won just six of their last 24 games held on a Sunday.
PREDICTION: Oilers 5, Penguins 4. Pittsburgh would be favored in most instances, but playing its third game in four nights to open the campaign will prove too much for the weary Penguins - particularly against an up-tempo team like the Oilers.