-The demolition of the Civic Arena is really progressing. This is rough to see:

-The current barn:

-Earlier today, the Penguins had some members from the Wounded Warriors project hanging out in the locker room:

-IceTime has a patriotic theme going on:

(You might notice, all the players on the cover are all American. From the upper lefthand corner clockwise, Matt Niskanen, Ben Lovejoy, Joe Vitale, Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik and Brent Johnson.)

-The ice:

-The rink:

-A few jersey sightings. Weep for this Mark Letestu fan:

-Nick Johnson Wilkes-Barre/Scranton:

-Deryk Engelland Wilkes-Barre/Scranton:

-Fans walking in off Centre Avenue:

-Ron Francis/"Snoop Dogg" style:

-Martin Straka:

-The Stars have a few fans here. Loui Eriksson:

-Alex Goligoski still has at least one fan here:

-Sgt. Bob Timney of the U.S. Army Reserves, who became something of a cult hero during the playoffs, is here to sing the national anthem:

-Maxime Talbot:

-Normally, an Alex Goligoski Minnesota Golden Gophers jersey would be the jersey of the game...

-But we have to go with this amazing Dino Ciccarelli North Stars:

-Warm ups:

-The Penguins' starters are Pascal Dupuis, Chris Kunitz, Jordan Staal, Kris Letang, Paul Martin and Marc-Andre Fleury.

-Their scratches are Dustin Jeffrey and Steve MacIntyre who are in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on conditioning assignments.

-The Stars' starters are Jamie Benn, Loui Eriksson, Michael Ryder, Trevor Daley, Nicklas Grossman and Kari Lehtonen.

-Their scratches are Jake Dowell and Adam Pardy.

-Sgt. Bob handles the anthem along with a Marine Color Guard:

17:36: Matt Niskanen pounds a slapper from the left point wide to the far side.

16:10: Staal float a wrister from the right half wall on net. Lehtonen kicks it out despite having Kunitz and Dupuis each providing moving screens.

15:37: Adam Burish pushes the puck up the right wing and dumps it into the Penguins' zone. Orpik steps up and thumps him. Burish braces for the hit and knocks Orpik into his own bench.

14:43: From the right wing, Cooke snaps a pass to Alexandre Picard at the left point. Picard takes the pass moves up a bit and chops a slapper at the cage. Lehtonen eats it up.

14:30: Chris Kunitz snaps off a wrister from above the right circle. Tom Wandell blocks it.

13:44: Evgeni Malkin roars up the right wing, flies by a stick check from Sheldon Souray, move behind the net and attempts a backhanded wraparound on the left side of the net. Stephane Robidas is there and appears to knock it away with a stick on puck.

11:56: The Penguins dump the puck into the left wing corner of the Stars' zone. Mark Fistric gets to it first but gets mashed into the boards by Eric Tangradi.

10:42: From the right point, Niskanen winds up and fires a slapper. Lehtonen boots it out despite another screen.

10:14: Souray snaps off a wirster from the left point. Despite traffic, Fleury kicks it out.

9:54: Neal gains the offensive zone on the right wing, veers slightly to the slot and leaves a drop pass for Malkin. Malkin picks it up and whips a heavy backhander on net. Lehtonen eats it up.

9:20: Stephane Robidas recovers a loose puck in the left wing corner of the Stars' zone. Steve Sullivan pressures him into a turnover. Neal steals the puck in the right corner and backhands it to Malkin in the slot. Malkin snaps off a wrister which Lehtonen denies.

9:15: Staal pumps a wrister on net form the left circle. Lehtonen eats it up.

7:30: Arron Asham attempt to jam in a wraparound from the left of the cage. Lehtonen holds it out.

6:16: Big save. After some hard work behind the net by the Stars, the puck skids across the front of the crease to Burish in front. Burish has Fleury all jammed up but can't get enough lift on his backhander. Fleury's right leg kicks it out. Burish has a chance with the rebound with Fleury on the ice but puts it off the side of the cage.

4:55: Eriksson cycles from behind the net and tries to leave a drop pass. He gets smashed into the boards by Engelland for his troubles.

4:12: Sullivan steals a poor pass by Robidas in his own zone at the left point. He taps a pass to Malkin in the slot. Malkin attempts a one-timer but Souray is there and goes stick on puck to deflect it.

3:52: Radek Dvorak chases down a dump-in into the left wing corner, He beats Martin to the puck and centers it to Eric Nystrom in the slot. Nystrom is behind Letang and taps it over the glove hand of an unprepared Fleury. Ick. The Penguins just got beat man for man on that play. Dvorak and Vernon Fiddler get assists. Stars 1-0.

1:14: Neal challenges Robidas one-on-one. He does an "inside-out" move and appears to have Robidas beat. Robidas hooks him up as Souray runs him over. Robidas gets two minutes for hooking. Kris Letang, Sullivan, Neal, Malkin and Kunitz take the ice.

0:51: Sullivan fire a slapper from the top of the slot. Burish drops down to the ice and blocks the shot with his back. Oof.

0:36: From the top of the slot, leang deal a pass to Neal deep in the right circle. Neal uncorks a one-timer which Lehtonen denies.

0:10: Brenden Morrow air mails a slapper from the red line near the penalty boxes. Fleury kicks it out.

0:00: End of period. Stars 1, Penguins 0.

FIRST INTERMISSION

-The Penguins dominated roughly 97 percent of that period. The Stars just happened to catch them napping during that three percent.

-For the most part, the Penguins controlled play. They had the bulk of puck possession. They maintained play in the offensive zone and generated some quality scoring chances.

-Neal, Sullivan and Malkin are playing like they want to do some damage tonight.

-For a defenseman who is renown for his defensive abilities, Robidas has looked rather ordinary thus far.

-Kari Lehtonen was the star of that period. He had to turn away a lot of rubber.

-The Penguins have a 13-5 lead in shots.

-Malkin leads the game with four shots.

-Eriksson leads the Stars with two.

-Letang leads the game with 7:54 of ice time.

-Souray leads the Stars with 7:10.

-The Penguins have a 13-9 lead in faceoffs (59 percent).

-Staal is 4 for 6 (67 percent).

-Tom Wandell is 2 for 3 (67 percent).

-Goligoski leads the game with two blocked shots.

-Fire Ray Shero.

-Longtime EN reader Mike Bober spotted this Mike Modano and Neal Broten jersey combo:

17:16: Tangradi recovers a puck behind the net and attempts to jam in a forehand wraparound attempt. Lehtonen denies him. Souray slams Tangradi to the ice for his troubles.

17:14: The great Joe Vitale is sent off for interference. Matt Cooke, Staal, Orpik and Martin take the ice.

17:10: Tangradi heads back to the locker room.

15:54: Souray booms a slapper from the right point wide on the near side.

15:14: As the power play expires, Ribero gains the offensive zone with speed and snaps off a wrister from the left circle. Fleury eats it up.

13:07: Tangradi appears to be back. He's on the bench fiddling with his helmet. Also, Goligoski's injury is to the "upper-body." He will not return.

12:43: Orpik is called for tripping Benn. Cooke, Letang, Craig Adams and Martin take the ice.

12:08: Ryder lifts a slapper from the left circle. Adams slides down to block it but misses. Fleury fights it off.

10:53: Staal chips a puck into the offenisve zone. Dupuis chases it down as Daley falls down. Daley tries to poke check it away but loses his stick. Dupuis allows the puck to settle and chops a backhander on net. Lehtonen holds it out. Nice play by Staal to create that chance.

10:45: Niskanen booms a slapper from the left point wide to the near side.

10:41: As Orpik's minor ends, Dupuis battles for the puck behind the Stars' net. He moves it to the left of slot. Picard is there and puts a slapper on net. Lethonen kicks it out.

10:34: Burish is sent off for slashing Picard. Kunitz, Malkin, Neal, Letang and Sullivan take the ice.

9:39: From the right point, Sullivan deals a pass to Malkin on the right half wall. Malkin unleashes a rocket of a one-timer. Lehtonen kicks it out with a "thud" despite a screen.

8:50: Niskanen cranks a slapper from the right point. Lehtonen kicks it out.

8:43: The Burish minor is killed. The Penguins generate a handful of decenct chances there.

7:02: Martin deals a pass to Dupuis in the left circle. Dupuis takes the puck, circles around and lifts a wrister. Lehtonen fights it off.

6:39: Malkin pushes the puck up the left wing  and leaves a drop pass for Neal. Neal snaps off a wrister which gets deflected up. It hits Fistric in the face. Fistric drops to the ice in discomfort. An athletic trainer runs out to attend to him. Fistric is able to recover to his skates but returns to the bench hunched over. He immediately heads to the locker room. The Stars are down to four defensemen.

4:09: Attendance is announced as 18,585. Is it the team's 217th consecutive sellout.

3:43: Souray is in deep on the left wing and attempts a slapper. Picard goes stick on puck and partially interupts the shot which clunks in on net. Fleury fendis off.

3:12: Dupuis and Benn battle for a puck in at the red line in front of the benches. Benn ends up tripping Dupuis who sells the penalty a tad. That's two minutes. Neal, Malkin, Kunitz, Letang and Sullivan take the ice.

3:05: Sullivan move a pass to Letang above the left circle. Letang puts a half one-timer on net which sails wide to the far side.

2:28: Letang controls the puck at the top of the slot. He deals a pass to Malkin in the circle. Malkin booms a rising one-timer which hits something and bounces over the right shoulder of Lehtonen. It clinks off the right post and into the cage. The Penguins celebrate. The goal horn goes off. But an official waves it off immediately citing a high stick by Kunitz. Replays show Kunitz stick juuuuuust at the height of the cross bar. Officials review the play and confirm the call on the ice. That's very borderline.

2:03: No replay need for this one. Kunitz pushes the puck up the left wing and deals a pass for Neal in the left circle. Neal takes the pass, settles it and chops a slapper on net. It sweaks through Lehtonen's gear and trickles juuuuuuust over the goal line. Grossman tries to sweep it out but it's a goal. Not as pretty as the one Kunitz thought he scored but it counts. Kunitz and Sullivan get assists. The ""Woo-Hoo!" song is played. Penguins 1, Stars 1.

0:26: The unlikely pair of Malkin and Adams push the puck up the right wing on a give and go. From along the goal line, Adams leaves a drop pass for Malkin trailing in the right circle. Malkin punches a quick little wrister on net. Lehtonen holds it out.

0:00: End of period. Penguins 1, Stars 1.

SECOND INTERMISSION

-That was a really slow, stagnant period for the most part. Neither team really maintained much of a sustained attack.

-This Penguins power play is really starting to round into shape. It basically scored twice that period. It's looking like a real weapon.

-Niskanen has been strong once again, especially in the offensive zone. He's not hesitant to shoot at all.

-Lehtonen has been outstanding aside from that leaky goal he gave up to Neal.

-The Penguins have a 23-11 lead in shots.

-Malkin leads the game with six.

-Niskanen is right behind him with five.

-Ribeiro leads the Stars with three.

-Letang leads the game with 17:25 of ice time.

-Souray leads the stars with 17:01.

-The Penguins have a 25-23 edge in faceoff (52 percent).

-The great Joe Vitale is 3 for 4 (75 percent).

-Burish is 5 for 7 (71 percent).

-Goligoski, Fiddler and Letang each lead the game with two blocked shots.

-Fire Ray Shero.

-Long-time EN reader Lowell Murray is here sporting an epic Brad Tolliver jersey:

(Kudos to EN cohort Ron Michalak for spotting that.)

THIRD PERIOD

18:00: Two minutes into the period and it looks like Fistric's night is done. No official word on his status however.

16:07: From behind his own cage, Orpik pushes a pass up the right wing to Dupuis at the Stars' blue line. Dupuis gains the offensive zone and sneaks a feed to Kunitz in the right circle. Kunitz re-directs it on net. Lehtonen juuuuuuust gets a piece of it.

15:05: Sullivan gains the offieven zone on the left wing. He deals to Malkin on the right wing. Malkin deals a feed towards the slot. Neal is near the play but is a few steps behind and can't connect on the feed.

13:55: On a delayed penalty, Engelland sneaks in on the right wing and flicks a little wrister on net. Lehtonen kicks it out. Souray is called for high sticking.

13:38: According to EN colleague Shelly Anderson, Alex Goligoski left Consol Energy Center with his left thumb heavily bandaged.

13:04: The Penguins trike again. But then so do the officials. Malkin controls the puck in the right circle and snaps off a wrister. Kunitz crashes in and makes contact with Lehtonen. The puck hits off the leg of Daley and deflects into the net. As the Penguins celebrate, an official immediately waves it off. The Penguins protest. Officials review the play and confirm the call on the ice. Kunitz made contact with Letnen.

12:41: And the Penguins get it right back immediately once again. Malkin controls the puck in right circle. He deals to Neal in the slot. Neal takes the pass, does a shoulder juke and gets Robidas to flop to the ice on a block attempt. Neal then attempts to feed a pass to Sullivan on the back door. Fistric, back in the lineup, attempts to poke it away ends up punches it into his own net. Malkin and Letang get assists. the "Woo-Hoo!" song is played. What a bizarre sequence. Penguins 2-1.

10:32: Cook races up the right wing on a partial breakaway. Daley flies after Cooke and dives hoping for a poke check. He ends up taking out Cooke's legs. Cooke still gets a shot off which Lehtonen fends off. Cooke crashes into Lehtonen and dislodges the net. An official points at center ice awarding a penalty shot. Cooke takes the puck at center ice, veers slightly to the left, aparoches the net. he goes forehand- backhand-forehand and lifts a wrister over the blocker of a frozen Lehotnen. What a smooth goal. Lehtonen was all jammed up. The "Woo-Hoo!" song is played. It's Cooke's 100th career point with the Penguins.

10:03: Off a turnover by the Martin in his own zone, Fiddler has a point blank chance but can't beat Fleury. Big save.

8:33: Engelland absolutely slams Ryder to the ice with a nasty open ice check in the neutral zone.

8:31: Eriksson pushes the puck up the right wing and pumps a slapper on net from the right circle. Fleury punches it away.

8:12: Fiddler snaps off a wrister from the left point wide on the near side.

7:12: Krys Barch slams Kris Letang in the right win orner. Asham gives Barch the business. Barch is called for boarding. Kind of a ticky tack call.  Kunitz, Letang, Sullivan, Malkin and Neal take the ice.

6:25: Kunitz backhands a pass from the goal line on the left wing to Neal in the left circle. Neal snaps off a heavy wrister which Lehtonen shrugs off.

5:25: Martin settles a bouncing puck in the slot and pumps a slapper. It hits a body in front.

5:12: The Barch minor expires.

2:24: After a few stagnant minutes, Engelland pumps a slaper on net from the right circle. Lehtonen kicks it out.

1:35: Cooke and Adams have a little two-on-one against Robidas. Crom the right right wing, Cooke feeds a pass to Adams. The puck hops up and Adams can't get a shot off.

1:15: Lehtonen is pulled for an extra attacker.

1:08: Daley cranks a one-timer from the right point. Fleury knocks it away with his stick.

0:35: Daley floats a wrister from the left point. Fleury gloves it. Afte the whistle, Kunitz and Morrow give each other the business. Both players get roughing minors and will watch the rest of the game from the locker room.

0:00: End of game. Mike Lange informs us of Elvis' whereabouts. That lame "PITTTTSSSBURRGHHH" song is played. Penguins 3, Stars 1.

POSTGAME

-First things first. Alex Goligoski led the game with a left hand injury after taking a shot off the hand from Chris Kunitz. His hand was heavily bandaged. Stars coach Glen Gulutzan suggested Goligoski could be a "out for a little bit."

-They didn't play a perfect game. They had a few bad luck calls. But the Penguins worked past that stuff and just took a win from the Stars. If not for some pretty sharp goaltending from Kari Lehtonen, the Penguins win by more than two goals.

-The James Neal-Evgeni Malkin-Steve Sullivan line is just working. It's clicking. Regardless of Sidney Crosby's health, this line can not be broken up as long as it's producing.

-So much for those suggestions that Neal's numbers would take a dip once November came. He keeps finding ways to put the puck into the net.

-Matt Cooke continues to show off his underrated skill set. His repuation really overshadows the fact that he's a fairly talented player.

-Matt Niskanen had a nice rebound game after missing the previous game due to an injury. He was very strong offensively.

-The power produced two goals on five chances. Is it safe to proclaim the power as "fixed?"

-Marc-Andre Fleury wasn't tested a great deal but he did make a handful of tough saves in situations where a goal could have changed everything.

-Lehtonen was outstanding, especially early in the game. The Penguins dominated most of the first period. Were it not for Lehtonen, the Penguins start out with a lead.

-It had to be difficult for the Stars to face the Penguins' forecheck with only four defensemen for part of the game. Dan Bylsma suggested the play where Cooke was awarded a penalty shot was the result of Stars defenseman Trevor Daley being winded.

-The Stars' big weapons were absent. It was difficult to notice Jamie Benn or Loui Eriksson.

-The Penguin led in shots, 32-20.

-Malkin led the game with six.

-Eriksson, Souray and Ribeiro each led the Stars with four shots.

-Letang led the game with 25:44 of ice time.

-Stephane Robidas led the Stars with 25:32.

-The Penguins had a 35-32 edge in faceoffs (52 percent).

-Jordan Staal was 11 for 20 (55 percent).

-Fiddler was 8 for 15 (43 percent).

-Sheldon Souray and Kris Letang each led the game with three blocked shots.

-Cooke became the 83rd player to reach 100 points with the franchise.

-Highlights:

-Neal appeared in his 250th career game.