PITTSBURGH -- Dan Bylsma has been hearing it seemingly from the moment he took over at Pittsburgh Penguins head coach four years ago. Every time the Penguins hit a rough patch, the murmurs about finding a polished winger to play alongside superstar Sidney Crosby pop up. Bylsma understands the sentiment. Its just that its a little misplaced. Thing is, Bylsma thinks the Penguins already have the winger who can bring out the best in Crosby. Just dont call Pascal Dupuis under the radar anymore. He has a point. Its kind of hard to be under the radar -- even when the radar is sometimes consumed by Crosbys star wattage -- when you keep scoring goals whether Crosbys No. 87 is skating alongside your or not. The NHLs leading goal scorer in the post-season isnt Crosby or reigning NHL MVP Evgeni Malkin. Its not future Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla or All-Star James Neal. Its a 34-year-old chameleon playing perhaps the best hockey of his career by doing all the little things right, and most of the big ones too. Dupuis textbook shorthanded goal that sealed Pittsburghs 4-1 win over Ottawa in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday night gave him six through the first seven games of the post-season. Heady territory for a player who had never scored more than four times in a given post-season during his 12-year career. The affable Dupuis cant quite explain whats happening. To be honest, putting so much thought process into the "why" might ruin the moment. "I dont know where its coming from, maybe from playing with great players, making the right plays," he said. Maybe, Dupuis is far more than Crosbys sidekick. If anything, hes perhaps Pittsburghs best two-way player at the moment, a fixture Bylsma can throw onto the ice in just about any situation as a security blanket. "Hes an extremely hard worker, extremely diligent," Bylsma said. "He gets good goals. He gets dirty goals, shorthanded goals like the one last night." One that came with Crosby, Malkin and the rest of Pittsburghs roster of bold-faced names sitting on the bench. The Penguins were nursing a 3-1 lead midway through the third period when the Senators went on the power play. Enter Dupuis, who collected a little chip pass from Doug Murray inside the Pittsburgh zone then raced to the Ottawa net with teammate Matt Cooke to his right in a 2-on-1 breakway. Rather than flip a crossing pass to Cooke, Dupuis patiently waited for Senators goaltender Craig Anderson to hedge just a bit in Cookes direction. Given a small gap over Andersons right shoulder, Dupuis fired from just in front of the net. The puck ripped just under the crossbar and the Penguins had a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series that continues on Friday. "I had a little hole and I was confident to shoot it and I put it right there," Dupuis said. Something Dupuis has developed a knack for whether Crosby is in the lineup or not. He collected a career-high 25 goals in 2011-12 even with Crosby missing the majority of the season due to concussion-like symptoms. He added 20 this year in just 48 games. And unlike some of his more heralded teammates, Dupuis didnt build his numbers by working on Pittsburghs potent power-play. His 17 goals at even strength were tied for sixth-most in the league, one spot ahead of Washingtons Alex Ovechkin. That ability to deliver in traffic is the main reasons Dupuis plus-31 rating led the league. "Hes been one of the best even-strength goal scorers in the league for quite some time now," Bylsma said. "His numbers stack up with the best names that we talk about being great players and thats playing with Sidney Crosby and without Sidney Crosby." Dupuis scored one of the bigger goals of Pittsburghs season in Game 6 of the first round series with the New York Islanders. Trailing by one midway through the second period, Dupuis was playing with fourth-line centre Joe Vitale and grinder Matt Cooke when Vitale raced in down the right side. Dupuis sped to the net then redirected Vitales centring pass over Evgeni Nabokov to tie a game the Penguins would eventually win in overtime. At the moment, Dupuis feels like he "has it every night." Pittsburgh will certainly take it as it searches for its fourth Stanley Cup. His production gives opponents another headache to solve. "He seems to have good chemistry with (his linemates)," Anderson said. "He finds a way to get open for Crosby. Crosby is a great passer and when Crosby is cycling the puck down low it seems like Dupuis getting to the net." Its a combination that could be nearing the end of a pretty good run. Dupuis will become a free agent this summer and the Penguins will have other pressing needs, like signing Malkin to an extension. Yet Dupuis remains optimistic he and the Penguins can find a way to make the math work. "Its about being on a team I feel comfortable with, playing with great teammates," he said. "The business side of it will take care of itself eventually." ------ NOTES: Ottawa D Eric Gryba did not practice on Wednesday and his status for Game 2 is uncertain. Gryba sustained a lower-body injury in Game 1 after a collision with Pittsburgh D Brooks Orpik ... Senators C Jason Spezza (back) is skating in Ottawa but coach Paul MacLean says it is unlikely Spezza will be ready for Game 2. Spezza hasnt played since Jan. 29.Cheap Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. Starling Marte Jersey . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. http://www.cheappiratesjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-sean-rodriguez-jersey . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Bill Mazeroski Jersey . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. Kent Tekulve Jersey . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record.SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The?San Francisco 49ers?released tight end Bruce Miller?on Monday afternoon after he was arrested on suspicion of assault early Monday morning in San Francisco.According to San Francisco Sheriffs Department holding records, Miller was arrested at 11:25 am PT Monday and taken to San Francisco County Jail. He is being held on $178,000 bond and being charged with assault with a deadly weapon (not a firearm), two counts of criminal threats, battery and elder abuse.The police said they were called to the Marriott on Fishermans Wharf at approximately 2:45 a.m. after Miller tried to enter a hotel room occupied by an elderly couple. The couples 29-year-old son, staying in the next room, then told Miller he was at the wrong room. Miller, who was intoxicated at the time, attacked the son and his 70-year-old father, who came to his sons defense, police said.The father was punched by Miller and both men were taken to the hospital for their injuries, police said.KTVU-TV first reported the arrest.The 49ers acknowledged the initial report in a statement on Monday morning.The San Francisco 49ers organization is aware of the media report regarding Bruce Miller, the statement said. We are gathering the relevant facts of this matter and will continue to monitor the situation.A little later in the day, the organization tweeted that Miller had been released.Miller was also arrested in March 2015 in Santta Clara on suspicion of spousal battery after his then-fiancée accused him of shoving her and smashing her cellphone during an argument.dddddddddddd.He denied assaulting the woman and pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge. He had to attend a 16-week anti-domestic-violence counseling course.Miller, 29, was entering his sixth season with the team and represented the tight ends on the teams leadership council, which includes a player from every position.Millers release leaves the Niners with three tight ends on the roster.Miller joined the 49ers in 2011 as a fullback after playing defensive end in college. He was a key part of San Franciscos teams that went to three straight NFC title games and one Super Bowl in his first three years. In 77 games over five seasons, has 62 yards rushing on 28 carries, adding 76 catches for 734 yards.He moved to tight end this season under new coach Chip Kelly, who does not use a fullback in his offense. Miller made the team as the fourth tight end behind Vance McDonald, Garrett Celek and Blake Bell.An email by The Associated Press to Millers agent and lawyer, Jack Reale, was not immediately returned Monday. Miller also did not respond immediately to a text message seeking comment.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ' ' '