Mike Comrie In The Spotlight

As the Pittsburgh Penguins get ready to finish their Dad's Trip tonight in Buffalo against the Sabres, it looks like frequently-scratched forward Mike Comrie is going to get a chance to get back in the lineup this evening.

It's been a tough season for Comrie -- something that has been well-documented everywhere, including in this space. 

Everyone hoped he'd be a $500K steal when Pens' GM Ray Shero took the chance on him late in free agency, and after a hot pre-season, it looked like he might be just that.

One quarter into the season, though, he's given Penguin Nation something to talk about for all the wrong reasons.

Hey -- at least we can enjoy the 'celebrity' factor his wife, actress/singer/author Hilary Duff, brings to the blogosphere.

Recently, Mrs. Comrie was interviewed on a radio show, where she talked -- among other things -- about how she and the Mr. sext each other to keep their long-distance relationship fresh.

No word on whether this actually goes on in the CONSOL Energy Center press box, where Comrie has spent so much time lately.

The first part of that radio interview can be found HERE

The second part of the interview -- where the sexting remarks are referenced at the beginning -- can be found HERE, which is a post from a few days ago by one of the best hockey bloggers on this planet, Greg Wyshynski, who regularly writes on his Yahoo Puck Daddy blog.

While things in Comrie's world are clearly hot off the ice, we can only hope he'll make the best of his anticipated appearance on the ice tonight against a Sabres' team that is going to be missing franchise goaltender Ryan Miller, who suffered a groin injury a few days ago and won't be able to go.

In his place, the Penguins are likely to see rookie netminder Jhonas Enroth.

Buffalo will also be missing forward Tim Connolly tonight, who also is dealing with an injury.

They will, however, have former Penguin Jordan Leopold in the lineup. 

Leopold, who is having a strong season for the Sabres after leaving Pittsburgh in the off-season and signing a 3-year deal with the Sabres, leads the Sabres' in ice-time and points among blueliners, with 5 goals and 14 points in 22 games.   He's playing with 2nd year rearguard Tyler Myers, and it's a good thing because after a stellar rookie season, Myers has terribly regressed in year 2. 

Myers is a -8 in 22 games.

Brent Johnson is expected to start in goal for the Penguins tonight. 

Defenseman Deryk Engelland, as anticipated, will also be back in the lineup. 

Let's Go Pens!