NHL ROUNDUP : Unbeliever? It’s a Night for Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins, unbeaten and untouchable so far, won again Tuesday night at home, with an unusual, unsportsmanlike assist. Understand?

Mario Lemieux had a goal and two assists and Shawn McEachern had his first career two-goal game as the Penguins (5-0-2) remained the NHL’s only unbeaten team with a 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks (4-2).

“It seems like everybody’s coming to the rink ready to play hard,” Lemieux said. “Everybody knows in our division it’s going to be tough just to make the playoffs. We have to have a good start and get some points on the board.”

“You can’t expect (Lemieux) to go crazy every night but he’s playing excellent hockey,” right wing Rick Tocchet said. “You can’t say enough for the guy.”

The Penguins broke open a 2-1 game when Vancouver’s Trevor Linden picked up a double minor for unsportsmanlike conduct at 16:30 of the first period.

“It’s my fault,” Linden said. “I’m responsible. I feel bad about it. It was a pretty selfish play on my part.”

“Everybody knows when you’re healthy you can give a lot more,” Lemieux said. “It’s like when you have a cold, you don’t feel like coming to work. The last few years, some nights it was hurting so bad I couldn’t give 100 percent.”

Lemieux says he has no problems this year. He was able to play golf all summer, he got through training camp and he’s been fine through the first few weeks. The back hasn’t even bothered him the day after a game.

In other games, Tampa Bay defeated Edmonton, 6-1; the New York Islanders defeated Philadelphia, 4-3; Hartford defeated New Jersey, 5-4; Detroit defeated Winnipeg, 5-3, and Toronto defeated Ottawa, 5-3.