Let Destiny Begin

Tonight, the curtain finally raises.

Or is it rises?

No matter ... the damg thing is going up, and that's all that counts.

After a decade of promises and threats, failures and successes, visions and dreams, the Pittsburgh Penguins will open their new building, the CONSOL Energy Center, for its first game between two competing NHL clubs, when the Boys of Winter host their biggest Western Conference rival, the Detroit Red Wings, in a 7:00 PM exhibition contest tonight.

Fittingly, the Penguins are unleashing the hounds for the game, dressing stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Brooks Orpik, Kris Letang, and Marc-Andre Fleury.

The Red Wings, meanwhile, have left Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk at home, but they intend to field a pretty veteran-heavy lineup this evening.

Among their skaters will be Dan Cleary, Kirk Maltby, and Todd Bertuzzi.  The Mule, Johan Franzen will also be in the lineup, and he'll be joined by a few other skilled guys up front in Valterri Filppula and Jiri Hudler.  Even new signee and respected 40-year old veteran Mike Modano -- in his first season with a club other than the Minnesota/Dallas franchise he suited up for his entire career -- will be in the lineup.

Brad Stuart and Jonathan Ericsson will lead their blueliners in front of the most overrated goaltender to ever win a Stanley Cup -- in the ol' Igloo or otherwise -- Chris Osgood.

On the Penguins' side, Brett Sterling, Pascal Dupuis, Mike Comrie, Eric Tangradi, Mark Letetsu, Tim Wallace, Tyler Kennedy, Ryan Craig, Joe Vitale and tough-guy Jesse Boulerice will join Sid and Geno up front.

Sterling -- who's had a strong camp thusfar -- will play with Crosby and Dupuis, and while I don't think he's going to shove Chris Kunitz off the roster, I'm anxious to see him there.

Meanwhile, Malkin will play with Comrie and Tangradi, as they've done for most of camp so far.

Letetsu will try to continue his strong play on the 3rd line with Wallace and TK, while the 4th line will be filled out by the Pens' remaining 3 forwards -- Craig, Vitale and Boulerice.

On the blueline, Orpik and Letang will be joined by newcomer Zbynek Michalek, along with Corey Potter, Andrew Hutchinson and Brian Strait.  

Orpik will play with Big Z, while Letang will skate with Strait and the two youngsters, Potter and Hutchinson -- trying to make an impression for the team's 7th defense spot -- will be paired.

Brad Thiessen will back up #29 in goal.

There's no TV for tonight's game, but it will be broadcast on the radio and on the Pens' website, and I know I won't be wasting any time tuning in to hear legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Lange call his first goal in the building.

It's been a long time coming, both to hear hockey again and see this spectacle of a new building open up for it.

The Penguins are deserving, that's for sure.

I'll have a brief recap tomorrow. 

Let's Go Pens!