By Dejan Kovacevic

Published: Friday, January 25, 2013, 2:05 p.m.
Updated: Monday, February 4, 2013

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Sidney Crosby embraced his first NHL trip here in the most powerful way possible: He went for a walk in minus-2 temps.

While nearly all of the Penguins' coaching staff and his teammates took a charter bus to cover the four blocks separating their hotel from MTS Centre, Crosby went to the morning skate by walking up Portage Avenue.

“It was pretty cold,” Crosby said with a smile. “But it was pretty nice, though.”

Spoken like a good Canadian citizen.

Crosby's visit was all the buzz in town, from a headline proclaiming him “Jets Killer” across the Winnipeg Sun tabloid to a stream of TV, radio and Internet fuss.

He actually played in this arena before, in 2005 as a member of the Canadian junior team.

“I have a lot of good memories from that,” Crosby said.

Someone asked Crosby if he would have a hard time blocking out the usual noise and derision aimed at visitors by the crowds here.

His answer: “I've played in Philly.”

• Defenseman Simon Despres was scratched for the first time after a mostly sluggish first three games. Coach Dan Bylsma pushed hard to have Despres on the roster out of training camp, but he said Despres needs “more consistency in his play and his demeanor.” He did not elaborate. Despres' place was taken by Ben Lovejoy, making his season debut. “My job is to be ready when called upon,” Lovejoy said. “I try to be the best player in practice. I'm excited for the chance.”

• Tomas Vokoun was chosen to start, Bylsma said, because he preferred Marc-Andre Fleury to go Sunday in Ottawa. Vokoun has poor career marks against the Senators: 5-12 with a 3.33 goals-against average. The plan had been to use both goaltenders on the trip.

• Defenseman Deryk Engelland still had quite a shiner around his right eye, the result of a fight Wednesday with Toronto's Colton Orr, but he laughed off the notion of donning a visor: “Oh, no. Never.”

• Jets winger Evander Kane raised eyebrows — including with some national outlets in the U.S. and Canada — by reporting for the morning skate with the letters “YMCMB” etched into the hair on the back of his head. The acronym stands for “Young Money Cash Money Billionaires,” Kane confirmed, the record label of rap artist Lil Wayne.

1. Penguins notebook: Morrow leaves practice with injury
2. Senators notebook: Pens' Crosby has defensive shadows
3. Blowing late lead not a good sign for Penguins
4. Penguins’ breakdown on Alfredsson goal changes series
5. Senators exude confidence after stirring Game 3 victory
6. Penguins Insider: Players’ focus in right place
7. Penguins notebook: Jokinen’s faceoff skills may be needed
8. Cooke has been steadying force for Penguins in playoffs
9. Penguins far from satisfied after Game 2
10. Gulf Tower ‘turns’ red over Pens goals
11. Goalie Anderson stands tall in Senators’ victory over Penguins

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