Hossa makes Pens debut tonight

ACT I for Marian Hossa and his new team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in Boston tonight.

Hossa will make his debut performance against the Bruins, after being dealt by his former club, the Atlanta Thrashers, on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old Slovakian comes to the Steel City following the blockbuster deal that saw the Penguins give up forwards Colby Armstrong, Eric Christensen, prospect Angelo Esposito, and a first round pick in the 2008 Entry Draft.

Besides Hossa, Pascal Dupuis was also part of the swap.

It's unclear right now whom Hossa will play with, but it's expected that coach Michel Therrien will unite the right winger with the talented Sidney Crosby, when the superstar center returns from a high ankle sprain.

To date, Crosby has missed 18 regular season games, but is scheduled to return to the Pens lineup next week.

Coach Michel Therrien has hinted he will keep the trio of Evgeni Malkin, Ryan Malone and Petr Sykora together for the time being, but things could change when Crosby gets back.

Hossa, who is a five-time NHL All-Star, is enjoying a productive season, registering 56 points in 60 games. He'll definitely add more offensive punch to the Penguins lineup. 

He does, however, become a free-agent this summer and his play in the next few months will determine whether the Pens will sign him to a long-term deal after July 1.

Pittsburgh has a chance to move into a first place tie with the New Jersey Devils in the Atlantic division with a win over Boston. The Penguins enter the game with 78 points, two back of the Devils.

Ty Conklin is expected to be in goal for Pittsburgh.  He was brilliant in a 4-2 win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday, making 50 saves en route to the victory.