head coach: Kevin Constantine

roster: C - Ron Francis, Martin Straka, Ed Olczyk, Chris Ferraro, Stu Barnes, Tyler Wright. LW - Alexei Morozov, Andreas Johansson, Greg Johnson, Garry Valk, Alek Stojonav. RW - Jaromir Jagr, Rob Brown, Peter Ferraro, Alex Hicks, Robet Dome. D - Kevin Hatcher, Darius Kasparaitis, Fredrik Olausson, Brad Werenka, Chris Tamer, Jiri Slegr, Neil Wilkinson, Ian Moran. G - Tom Barrasso, Ken Wregget.

injuries: Alex Stojanov, lw (pelvis, indefinitely); Ian Moran, d (knee, 1-2 weeks); Garry Valk, lw (charley horse, day-to-day); Neil Wilkinson, d (abdomen, day-to-day); Greg Johnson, c (groin, day-to-day).

transactions: Traded Jason Woolley, d, to Buffalo for a 4th-round draft pick. Traded Francois Leroux, d, to Colorado for a 3rd-round draft pick. Lost Robert Lang, c, in the Waiver Draft. Sent Roman Oksiuta, rw, to the Quebec Rafales on the IHL. Signed Rob Brown, rw. Claimed Chris and Peter Ferraro off waivers from the New York Rangers.

standings:

GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   HOME      ROAD
 3   1   1   1     3   10   11  0-1-1     1-0-0

game results:

10/01 Los Angels  T 3-3
10/03 at Carolina W 4-3
10/04 Florida     L 5-3

team news:

by Brett Taylor, Pittsburgh Correspondent

The Penguins began the Post-Mario Lemieux era this week, looking much the same as they did with Mario. After the first week they are 1-1-1, beating a weak Carolina Hurricane team and losing to Florida after surrendering three goals in the last two and a half minutes of the game. All while new head coach Kevin Constantine is in the process of ushering out the "country club mentality" of the Penguin locker room.

Through the first three games the Pens have not looked much different from last year. The power play is still strong, although it still has not began to really click yet. The penalty killing is still a general weak spot, giving up three power-play goals against LA. The defense is still thin. The Pens have a pretty good group of forwards, Rob Brown was invited to camp and, not only has he made the team, but is on the first power-play unit.

Craig Patrick has made strides to tighten things up a bit by trading off two weak blueliners in Francois Leroux and Jason Woolley. Woolley has a great set of wheels and a healthy share of offensive skills, but is small and weak in his own end. Leroux is big and tough, but his ridiculously poor skating diminishes his good defensive skills. The Pens shockingly placed hard-hitting and hard-working winger Joe Dziedzic on waivers just a few weeks after signing him to a new contract in mid-September. Joe was one of the hardest working forwards on the team last season and seemed to be a role player of the future for the Pens. Luckily, Dziedzic cleared waivers and remains Pittsburgh property while playing for Cleveland of the IHL.

Almost immediately after the season began Patrick sent Roman Oksiuta to the minors. In the two roster spots opened up by sending down Dziedzic and Oksiuta, Patrick signed the Ferraro twins, Chris and Peter, off waivers from the New York Rangers. Chris scored in his second game with the Pens. He was assisted by Peter, this marked the first time the two connected for a goal in the NHL. The Ferraros are playing on a line with Martin Straka. The trio worked well together against Florida and saw considerable ice time. They could make a good second line, if they continue to gel. Their speed would take the pressure off of the Jagr-Francis-Morozov line.

Jaromir Jagr has stepped up in the way he was expected to as the team's scoring leader, recording one goal and four assists in the first three games. As expected, Ron Francis was named the Pens' new captain. Alexei Morozov has shown some strong individual skills so far. He scored a goal seven minutes into his first game. Breaking in behind the defense with Jagr, he took the pass on the door step and rammed home his first NHL goal. Morozov was the Pens' first pick in the 1995 Entry Draft. He is reminiscent of Jagr during the early days, in that he tries the same fancy little plays that worked for him in junior and international league play, but is finding that they will be unsuccessful in the NHL.

Tom Barrasso is back from his hiatus, er, year off, and is playing well. The win over Carolina was the 296th of his career. He's counting down to his 300th career win. He will be the first American born goaltender to reach the 300-win mark. If we need to spell it out for ya, that makes him the winningest U.S. born goalie in NHL history.

Another player who has made a contribution to the team early this season is Tyler Wright. Not known for his offensive prowess, he managed to pound home two goals in the 4-3 win over Carolina, barely missing a hat trick when he failed to lift a shot at point blank over a fallen Sean Burke in the third period.

Overall the Pens look a lot better than they did a year ago, and that was with Mario Lemieux. They need to get the forwards playing both ends of the ice, and the defense playing in the one they belong. The offense will never be a problem, they are scoring goals, and when they finally sign Petr Nedved they will become even stronger. The goaltending has been strong, not great, but strong. If they can tighten things up defensively the goaltending will become even stronger. Kevin Constantine will whip the team in to shape but it will just take some time. It is too early to gauge what the team will look like this season. Wait until November for a better read.

RECENT LINES

Offense
Alexei Morozov/Ron Francis/Jaromir Jagr
Martin Straka/Chris Ferraro/Peter Ferraro
Ed Olczyk/Stu Barnes/Rob Brown
Alex Hicks/Tyler Wright/Andreas Johansson

Defense
Brad Werenka/Kevin Hatcher
Darius Kasparaitis/Fredric Olausson
Chris Tamer/Jiri Slegr

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