Iginla Ready To Play In First Pens Game
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) -- Jarome Iginla had to wait an extra day or two for his immigration issues to be cleared up, but won't have to wait long to make his Penguins debut.
A little more than 12 hours since arriving in Pittsburgh, Iginla is in the line-up this afternoon against the NY Islanders.
Iginla's flight out of Calgary was delayed, and by the time he reached Chicago he had missed his connection to Pittsburgh.
So, the Penguins arranged for a plane of his own and he settled into his hotel next top CONSOL Energy Center where he was able to roll out of bed into the Pens locker room.
- Listen to Iginla from Saturday's press conference:
Jarome Iginla
"It's nice to have an afternoon game with the nerves and the excitement and not have to deal with that," Iginla said. " I'm ready to get goin'."
Not only that, Iginla will play left wing on a line with Evgeni Malkin and James Neal.
Most of Iginla's 525 NHL goals have come as a right-winger, but he doesn't see that as a problem.
"Early in my career, I switched to left wing with Theo Fleury on the right," Iginla explained. "I'm very happy to try it and I think I can do it."
That leaves the NHL's top scoring line – Crosby-Kunitz-Dupuis – intact while Brenden Morrow will play on the third line with Brendan Sutter and Matt Cooke.
Iginla was added to the 23-man roster with defenseman Paul Martin going on injured reserve with a broken bone that will require surgery.
Coach Dan Bylsma says Martin's recovery will take six weeks, which would keep Martin out of the first round of the playoffs.
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