During his short time in Pittsburgh, Detroit Red Wings forward Marian Hossa noted how loud the crowd can get at Melon Arena.
He anticipates the decibel level to increase today whenever he touches the puck.
Pittsburgh fans are sure to remind Hossa of their displeasure over his decision to spurn a long-term contract offer from the Penguins and sign a one-year deal with Detroit on July 2.
Hossa might have the last laugh. He is thriving for a Red Wings team with the third-best record in the NHL, while the Penguins are in a battle to make the playoffs.
"They have really great fans there. It's going to be loud in the building," Hossa said. "I was only there for a short period of time, but through those months I had a great time. Fans love hockey there. You don't see many cities where they sell-out every night."
The Red Wings return to the scene of where they wrapped up their 11th Stanley Cup championship in franchise history on June 4 when they face the Penguins at 12:30 p.m. today in a nationally televised game on NBC.
Hossa played only 32 games, regular season and playoffs, for the Penguins, who acquired him from Atlanta at the trade deadline, but he said he still keeps in contact with a few players there. Some, including Sidney Crosby, were upset that he left.
"Knowing some people there, and they're close to you, you try to compete even more," Hossa said. "It'll be another good challenge. Pittsburgh isn't an easy place to play. They have loud, crazy fans in the building."
Said teammate Niklas Kronwall: "He's such a great player and great person, hopefully they welcome him back."
Hossa leads the Red Wings with 29 goals. His agent, Ritch Winter, currently is negotiating a long-term contract extension with the club.
"Hossa has been great for us all year," Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood said. "Having him here gave us some spark that was huge early in the year when a lot of us were missing it. He won some games by himself early, which was key, kind of got us rolling and other guys kind of followed his lead."
Homecoming for Conklin
It also will be a homecoming for Detroit goaltender Ty Conklin, who enjoyed his one season in Pittsburgh as Marc-Andre Fleury's backup. But he noted the view from the bench for the backup goalie isn't great.
"You want to have a decent seat when you're the backup in your own rink, but you can't even see the other end (of the ice). That's how far away you are," Conklin said. "I had a wooden seat and it was so hard my butt would fall asleep. I had to stand up until I got a new seat. I finally stole one of the photographer's seats."
Goalie decision due
After Saturday's 8-3 victory over Edmonton, Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said he hadn't decided who would start in goal today, Conklin or Chris Osgood. Detroit squandered a three-goal, third-period lead during a defensive meltdown in a 7-6 overtime loss to the Penguins at Joe Louis Arena on Nov. 11.
He anticipates the decibel level to increase today whenever he touches the puck.
Pittsburgh fans are sure to remind Hossa of their displeasure over his decision to spurn a long-term contract offer from the Penguins and sign a one-year deal with Detroit on July 2.
Hossa might have the last laugh. He is thriving for a Red Wings team with the third-best record in the NHL, while the Penguins are in a battle to make the playoffs.
"They have really great fans there. It's going to be loud in the building," Hossa said. "I was only there for a short period of time, but through those months I had a great time. Fans love hockey there. You don't see many cities where they sell-out every night."
The Red Wings return to the scene of where they wrapped up their 11th Stanley Cup championship in franchise history on June 4 when they face the Penguins at 12:30 p.m. today in a nationally televised game on NBC.
Hossa played only 32 games, regular season and playoffs, for the Penguins, who acquired him from Atlanta at the trade deadline, but he said he still keeps in contact with a few players there. Some, including Sidney Crosby, were upset that he left.
"Knowing some people there, and they're close to you, you try to compete even more," Hossa said. "It'll be another good challenge. Pittsburgh isn't an easy place to play. They have loud, crazy fans in the building."
Said teammate Niklas Kronwall: "He's such a great player and great person, hopefully they welcome him back."
Hossa leads the Red Wings with 29 goals. His agent, Ritch Winter, currently is negotiating a long-term contract extension with the club.
"Hossa has been great for us all year," Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood said. "Having him here gave us some spark that was huge early in the year when a lot of us were missing it. He won some games by himself early, which was key, kind of got us rolling and other guys kind of followed his lead."
Homecoming for Conklin
It also will be a homecoming for Detroit goaltender Ty Conklin, who enjoyed his one season in Pittsburgh as Marc-Andre Fleury's backup. But he noted the view from the bench for the backup goalie isn't great.
"You want to have a decent seat when you're the backup in your own rink, but you can't even see the other end (of the ice). That's how far away you are," Conklin said. "I had a wooden seat and it was so hard my butt would fall asleep. I had to stand up until I got a new seat. I finally stole one of the photographer's seats."
Goalie decision due
After Saturday's 8-3 victory over Edmonton, Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said he hadn't decided who would start in goal today, Conklin or Chris Osgood. Detroit squandered a three-goal, third-period lead during a defensive meltdown in a 7-6 overtime loss to the Penguins at Joe Louis Arena on Nov. 11.
