Petr Sykora seemed stunned to learn that Miroslav Satan will replace him in the Penguins' lineup for Game 5 of their opening-round playoff series against Philadelphia 7:08 tonight at Mellon Arena.

"I'm surprised," he said after the game-day skate. "Yes."

The Flyers, conversely, didn't seem to care much about the switch.

"I feel like (Satan) is the exact same player as Sykora," said forward Arron Asham, Satan's former teammate with the New York Islanders.

"He's a dangerous sniper-type, but a guy who doesn't like the rough stuff. So if we take a body to him and be physical with him, I don't think he'll be too much of a factor."

That's a fair description of Sykora's work through the first four games of the series, during which he has failed to earn a point.

He has just two goals in his past 21 appearances and his play has spawned speculation that Sykora is playing with a significant injury, but both he and team officials deny that.

Inserting Satan might not be the only switch the Penguins make tonight.

Defenseman Philippe Boucher could go in for Kris Letang, who is believed to be nursing an unspecified injury.

Interim coach Dan Bylsma said that choosing between Boucher and Letang will be "a game-time decision." Boucher, however, got some work in Letang's usual spot on the left point of the No. 1 power-play unit during today's morning skate.

Although Satan will take Sykora's spot in the lineup, he won't necessarily inherit his place on the No. 2 line with Evgeni Malkin and Ruslan Fedotenko.

Pascal Dupuis, who has been on the fourth line, moved up to Malkin's line during drills this morning, while Satan skated with Max Talbot and Craig Adams in Dupuis' usual place.

Satan, who has not played in an NHL game since March 3, said today he had "no nerves" about playing, and that he doesn't expect that he'll need long to get acclimated.

"I hope it won't take me more than two shifts," he said.

The Penguins have a 3-1 lead in the series and can clinch a spot in the second round with a victory tonight.