PIT@ATL - Pre-Game

Big Tex and Frozen Pill are at the game early. Having found our way to our seats in the Press Box, we are taking in a little quiet before the storm. The doors to the public have just opened and we can see the early arrival of Thrasher fans making their way to their seats.

On our walk to Philips Arena, we noticed plenty of Penguins sweaters on fans outside the arena. Are they locals who like rooting for the Stanley Cup champs or have plenty of Pens fans descended onto Atlanta for tonight's game?

Obviously, the Thrashers will use tonight's contest as a measuring stick. During our interview with Rich Peverley, Big Tex asked if it's the outsiders who see this as such an opportunity or if the players see this game in such a manner when playing the defending Cup champs.

The answer was, "definitely". So, if the Thrashers want to guage their early season's success by tonight's game, they face a now-not-so-depleted Pittsburgh lineup...and one getting healthier by the day. Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar are back and it looks like Brooks Orpik will rejoin the team tonight as well.

Short posts tonight from the game via the mobile phone. But more to come soon. Follow @ongoalanalysis and @OGAs_BigTex on twitter for running updates throughout the game.

This is going to be a good one and I think the Pens will have their work cut out for them tonight.