Who needs Mario? Who needs Tom? Who needs more than a weeklong training camp?

That’s what fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins must be thinking today.

Playing without superstar center Mario Lemieux and goaltender Tom Barrasso, and with only a week of training camp after the 3-1/2-month long lockout, the Penguins reeled off seven straight victories to open the shortened 1995 NHL season, tying their best start in the franchise’s 28-year history.

Through Friday’s schedule, the Penguins were the only club to have won every game they had played. The Toronto Maple Leafs set the NHL record with a 10-0 start last season.

Edmonton no-shows

Who said that NHL fans wouldn’t return to the rinks after the lockout?

According to the league, 1,082,274 fans attended the first 68 games of the season. That’s an average of 15,916 fans per game, up from an average of 15,825 after 68 games last season.

One exception to the trend is in Edmonton. Attendance at the Northlands Coliseum on Wednesday for the Oilers game against Chicago was announced at 10,497. But observers estimated that there were no more than 8,000 diehards in the 16,600-seat arena.