Petr Sykora had played in 870 National Hockey League games and scored 282 goals, but three had never come on the same night. In fact, Sykora had scored 2 goals in a game on 38 occasions only to watch the final buzzer sound without being able to snare that elusive hat trick. That would all change for the 32-year-old last night against the New York Islanders at Mellon Arena.

Sykora picked up two power play goals during an 8 minute span in the second period. He would have close to 25 minutes to register the one thing that has managed to dodge him during his 13 year NHL career – a hat trick!

Though Sykora had talked to reporters on 38 occasions in many different cities about not being concerned with the lack of an NHL hat trick, he threw it out there last night. He cared about getting his first hat trick a lot more than anyone may have realized.

"As much as I talked about how it didn't bother me, it did bother me," Sykora said.

Not only did it bother Sykora; it seemed to bother his teammates as well, especially Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The dynamic duo made getting “Sykkie” his first hat trick their personal mantra. The two-headed monster often went out of its way to feed him the puck when he was in position to notch number three. Many times passing up scoring opportunities of their own.

Ironically, Sykora, who also had a goal waived off in the game, would get his third off of a pass from Sidney Crosby and not Evgeni Malkin who is his usual line mate. Crosby’s playmaking skills are world class and he has been finding Sykora on the power play quite a bit.

"He said just to get open, and he was going to get it to me," Sykora said of his captain. "He made a perfect pass."

Sykora took the pass in the high slot, where he has scored numerous goals in the past, and one timed it past Islanders goaltender Yann Danis. It was a surreal moment as the crowd erupted and began littering the ice with hats and duffel bags that were given out upon entry. You could see the weight of 13 NHL seasons without a hat trick lift from Sykora’s shoulders as he found Crosby and leaped into his arms. It was the most jubilant I have ever seen Sykora.

Sykora had a look of relief on his face after the game and was still smiling. He felt that there was something different throughout the day, something special that made this one different.

"I don't know, for some reason this night feels pretty special," Sykora said. "I know the game is on TV in Czech and I know my dad is watching. I think he is very, very happy right now. There is just a lot of things going around today, my son is feeling better than last night -- he was really sick and he sleep better and the whole day is just really positive and just very happy."

“Petr Gun” wasn’t the only Penguins player to notch his first career hat trick in the game, as he watched his friend and teammate Pascal Dupuis accomplish the same feat. It just made the entire experience better for him.

"I am so happy for Duper because Duper is a great guy. He really deserve it," Sykora said. "He was playing his butt off lately, he is skating well and doing so much hard work on the PK and to get his first hatty...I guess I can relate to that feeling because obviously mine happened 20 minutes before him. I am very happy for him."

We have talked in the past about possible turning points in the season and last night might have been exactly that. Lost in the shuffle of hat trick fever is the fact that 5 different players scored goals and 13 players picked up points. Sykora and Dupuis may have accomplished individual feats, but those goals may have done the “trick” in turning around what was starting to look like a pretty grim December.

More later…

* * * * *

All indications are that Marc Andre Fleury is ready...

Possibly Mike Zigomanis (saw him laughing and joking in the room last night and he looked fine)

The Penguins today re-assigned John Curry and Chris Minard. Here is the release...more on this later...

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS RE-ASSIGN CURRY AND MINARD

TO WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS


The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-assigned goaltender John Curry and forward Chris Minard to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL), it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.

Curry played three games with Pittsburgh, including his NHL debut on Nov. 26, relieving Dany Sabourin and helping the Penguins secure a 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders. He posted a 2-1-0 record along with a .913 save percentage and 2.14 goals-against average in his latest stint with the Penguins. Curry registered a 3-4-0 record in eight games this season Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, earning a .897 save percentage and a 3.36 goals-against average at the time of his recall.

The 5-11, 185-pound goaltender split the 2007-08 season between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL), the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) and the Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL). Curry posted a 24-12-3 record in 40 contests last year with the Penguins. He ranked fifth with a 2.23 goals-against average and registered a .915 save percentage. The 24-year old posted a 2.83 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage in 23 playoff games, helping the Penguins reach the Calder Cup Finals. Curry was named to the 2008 AHL All-Rookie Team.

The Shorewood, Minnesota native was signed by the Penguins as a free agent on July 13, 2007.

Minard appeared in five games during his second stint this season with Pittsburgh. The 6-1, 190-pound forward ranked second in the AHL with 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) and tied for the league lead in goals (17) at the time of his recall. Minard leads the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins in goals and points, while posting a plus-six rating.

The 27-year old played 15 games with Pittsburgh in 2007-08, registering two points, his first goal and assist in the NHL. Minard collected 42 points (25 goals, 17 assists) along with 33 penalty minutes in 56 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season. He also contributed 17 points (11 goals, six assists) and 10 penalty minutes in 23 playoff games, helping the WBS Penguins reach the Calder Cup Finals.

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette is also reporting that Max Talbot did not practice today and will be out of the line-up tomorrow in Philadelphia. He is suffering an undisclosed injury...