Penguins put 2 rookie Ryans right out front

The Penguins coach hopes that Christensen and Whitney energize the team.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Not many NHL teams would break in two rookies by placing them in prominent roles at the start of a long road trip.
But then again, not many teams are as desperate as the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Penguins recalled center Ryan Christensen and defenseman Ryan Whitney from their American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Monday, a day before the 1-5-5 team begins a stretch of five road games in nine days through New Jersey, Boston, New York (both teams) and Atlanta.
"They're going to get thrown right in headfirst," coach Eddie Olczyk said.
Extremes
Christensen and Whitney left a team that had won is first nine games and led the AHL in goals scored and goals-against. They drove across the state to join a team that has won only one of its first 11 games, is last in the league in goals-against average and is coming off blowing a two-goal lead during the last eight minutes of its previous game.
Christensen and Whitney were big parts of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins' success. Whitney, 22 and a fifth overall draft pick in 2002 by Pittsburgh, led the AHL in scoring by a defenseman with 14 points.
"My strength is taking the puck up ice," Whitney said. "If I'm moving the puck, I am doing my job."
Christensen, 21, ranks third in the AHL with 19 points, third with nine goals and fourth with 10 assists. He had 13 points in his last five games and will play on the NHL Penguins' No. 2 line with Ziggy Palffy and Ryan Malone.
"Both guys will get on the ice and both guys will play in all situations," Olczyk said. "We thought they played very well in Wilkes-Barre, and we're hoping they energize us."
Energy and speed
Energy, along with speed, is what Christensen said Olczyk told him he wanted the rookie to display. "Maybe I can bring what I was doing in the American [Hockey] League here," he said, "and help make a change."
There is little doubt the Penguins need a change. The team entered the season with high expectations after finishing the last season played with a 12-5-3 record and adding high-profile free agents Palffy, Sergei Gonchar and John LeClair -- not to mention the return of Hall-of-Famer Mario Lemieux from injury and the addition of No. 1 overall draft pick Sidney Crosby.
Maybe that change will come away from Mellon Arena: Pittsburgh is only 1-3-2 at home.
"We really haven't had a team bonding trip yet," said Malone. "It's a great group of guys here. Maybe if we get away, get out on the road, we'll stick together, and hopefully that will carry over to the ice and we will have a good trip and turn this around."
Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.