In Search of Offense in Phoenix

It's hard to imagine the Penguins as a team in the lower rung of the goal-scoring teams in the NHL.

Sure enough, going into tonight's game in Phoenix against the Coyotes (10:00 PM EST), they sit 23rd overall with 2.40 goals per game.

That's not good enough for anyone, especially coach Michel Therrein, who has reconfigured his lines for tonight's matchup.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will be on separate lines tonight. Malkin will be paired with his usual linemate, Petr Sykora, and they'll skate with Matt Cooke.

Meanwhile, Crosby practiced yesterday with Ruslan Fedotenko and Pascual Dupuis. At least before Dupuis left practice with an injury.

There has been no word on Dupuis' status.

Meanwhile, Staal will still anchor the 3rd line, with Miroslav Satan and Tyler Kennedy on his flanks.

Hal Gill practiced with the team yesterday and he's closer to returning to the lineup, although there's no official word as to whether he'll be inserted tonight.

Even if he is, it won't be to jump-start the Penguins offense.

They need to generate scoring chances and penalties against a Coyote team who ranks 21st in the league in goals against, and 22nd in killing off man-advantage situations. Only one team in the NHL -- the New York Islanders -- has less points than the Coyotes.

The Penguins can definitely use tonight to try and kick-start their game. I'm anxious to see how they do.

Notes:

- I have neglected to mention the last few days that the Penguins recently signed defenseman Alex Grant to a 3-year entry level contract. Grant, currently the team captain for the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, was drafted 118th in the Penguins bumper crop draft of 2007. Grant is a good prospect who has raised his stock since Pittsburgh picked him. He has 12 points in 10 games this year and 105 points in 190 overall games in the "Q".

- The Penguins have been rated the 18th most valuable franchise in the NHL, with an estimated worth of 195 million (Now, I only need 194.9 million more dollars to try and buy the team). They had the largest percentage in increase in value: 26%. The Toronto Maple Leafs are the most valuable team -- at 448 million.