STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - Sidney Crosby will lead a new-look Pittsburgh team in front of a new audience today when the NHL starts its season in two European cities.

The Penguins hope it won't be the same mediocre start they've had in recent seasons.

"In the last couple of years we probably didn't start amazing, but decent enough to stay with the pack," Crosby said ahead of two season-opening games against the Ottawa Senators in Stockholm. "We probably want to improve on that and start even better. We have a great test in our first two games against Ottawa here."

The NHL is returning to Europe this weekend with regular-season openers in both the Swedish and Czech capitals. In Prague, the New York Rangers take on the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Last year, the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings opened the season with two games in London, and the NHL is looking to expand its presence in Europe.

Crosby, whose team lost in the Stanley Cup finals to the Detroit Red Wings last season, said he's been impressed by the European fans during the last week, which included practices in Stockholm and an exhibition in Finland.

"They support hockey pretty well from what I've seen," said Crosby, 21, who finished the 2006-07 regular season as the first teenager in NHL history to win the scoring title. His star power was one of the reasons this weekend's games sold out in a matter of minutes.

Several North American teams, including the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs, have played exhibitions here throughout the years, but this is the first time the NHL regular season opens in Scandinavia.

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