Penguins open at home against Flyers on Oct. 5

Evgeni Malkin, 2004 top draft pick, should make his debut for Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Sidney Crosby didn't get to play his first game for the Pittsburgh Penguins at home. It looks like Evgeni Malkin will.
The Penguins open the 2006-07 season at home against the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 5, in what is expected to be Malkin's debut for the Penguins, barring any unexpected contract or injury problems.
Malkin, the No. 2 pick in the 2004 draft, is expected to sign with the Penguins now that Russian teams have signed off on a transfer agreement that allows their top players to play in the NHL. Because there was no such agreement last year, Malkin stayed in Russia to play.
Crosby's debut last year came in an Oct. 5 game at New Jersey, and his first home game didn't take place until the third game of the season.
At home early
The Penguins will play four of their first five games and six of their first eight games at home, with Stanley Cup champion Carolina making the first of its two appearances at Mellon Arena on Oct. 14.
The Penguins will play each of their Atlantic Division rivals -- the Devils, Flyers, Rangers and Islanders -- eight times, with four games each against the other 10 Eastern Conference teams.
As they did last year, the Penguins will play only 10 of their 82 games against Western Conference teams -- five each at home and on the road. The home games are against Detroit, Chicago, Columbus, Nashville and St. Louis. The road games will be at Anaheim, Dallas, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Jose.
Because there will be no Olympics break, the Penguins will end the season 11 days earlier than they did last season. Their final game will be April 7 at home against the Rangers.
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