“The Big Screen” will return for Friday’s Penguins home opener

From the Penguins: The Pittsburgh Penguins will raise the 2008-09 Stanley Cup championship banner in a special ceremony before Friday’s regular-season opener against the New York Rangers at Mellon Arena. Gates will open at 6 p.m., a half-hour earlier than usual, and fans are asked to be in their seats by 7:25 p.m. The game is sold out and will be the team’s 119th straight sellout.  Fans without tickets will be able to watch the ceremony and the game on a big screen in front of Gate 3. The big screen, which has become a Pittsburgh playoff tradition, will start operating on Wednesday, showing playoff game highlights and the Penguins’ Stanley Cup championship DVD.  “This will be another great night for the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, and we’re looking forward to sharing it with the greatest fans in hockey,” said team president David Morehouse. “The big screen is one of our special playoff features, but we wanted to bring it back for this very special opening night.”