Crosby aware of ‘exciting atmosphere’ at MTS Centre

By: Tim Campbell Posted: 2:04 PM CST Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 Last Modified: 2:42 PM CST Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 | Updates

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WINNIPEG — His first NHL game in Winnipeg is already elevated to event status.

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WINNIPEG — His first NHL game in Winnipeg is already elevated to event status.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/01/2013 (4635 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — His first NHL game in Winnipeg is already elevated to event status.

And it sounds like Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby knows what he’s in for in his 439th career NHL regular-season game when his team meets the Winnipeg Jets Friday night at the MTS Centre (7 p.m. CT, TSN, TSN1290).

“It’s an exciting atmosphere,” Crosby told pittsburghpenguins.com today after the team’s practice at home. “We know they play well there. I played World Junior there for a couple games. It’s exciting. It’s a good building. They’re excited to have hockey there.”

Gene Puskar / the associated press
Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby starts a rush up the ice during an informal practice in Pittsburgh Monday. He only played in 29 games but still scored eight goals and 29 assists last year. — Gene Puskar / the associated press Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby starts a rush up the ice during an informal practice in Pittsburgh Monday. He only played in 29 games but still scored eight goals and 29 assists last year.

Crosby, before he was selected first overall in the 2005 entry draft, was part of the gold-medal-winning Team Canada that trained here and played two exhibition games in the MTS Centre prior to the World Junior in Grand Forks, N.D.

Last season because of the symptoms of concussion, Crosby missed all four games the Penguins played against the Jets.

The final two of those were in the season’s second half in Pittsburgh, when the Jets were trounced twice, 8-5 and 8-4.

“I hadn’t remembered until now,” said Jets defenceman Ron Hainsey, feigning some amnesia today. “I pretended like they didn’t exist anymore.

“Obviously you know who’s coming at you from the other side. Those scores, however unfortunate, don’t shock me. There’s no break with their team, we know that. (Evgeni) Malkin won the MVP and Crosby’s recognized as the greatest player in the world. It’s as big a challenge as we’ll face from a D standpoint, with top forwards coming at you, no question.”