Another multi-point game gives Penguins’ Sidney Crosby 200 career and NHL scoring lead


For all the talk about goalkeeping or matchups or that speed and age have been working against the Pittsburgh Penguins in recent postseasons, perhaps their captain will serve as the proverbial weather vane for the team’s fortunes.

In the previous three playoff races from 2019-21, Sidney Crosby combined for six points.

In less than a week this postseason, Crosby has already surpassed that. No wonder the Penguins are winning the playoffs again.

Crosby had a goal and two assists during Monday’s Game 4 first-round playoff series win 7-2 against the New York Rangers. Crosby has had at least two points in each of the series games, one of the main reasons the Penguins lead 3 games to 1.

“He’s playing a really complete game on both sides of the puck,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He is playing an inspired game; I think he inspires the group just through his actions when he’s on his game the way he is right now.”

Crosby has nine points in the four games, a total that put him in a tie with the Boston Bruins’ Brad Marchand for the NHL postseason scoring lead when Monday’s game ended.

Crosby has amassed just three goals and three assists in the last three postseasons combined. It’s not entirely a coincidence that the Penguins have gone 3-11 in games and 0-3 in series during that span.

Crosby is a three-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner as NHL postseason MVP, but that didn’t stop some from positing Monday that he might be playing the best playoff hockey of his career in this series. .

“He’s played some pretty good hockey in the playoffs during my time here,” Sullivan said in response to a query, “so the bar is very high.”

However, Sullivan admitted that Crosby “is playing very well for us.”

The statistics prove it. When Monday’s game ended, Crosby had a wide three-point lead in NHL playoff points with even strength (eight). He led the playoffs in assists and matchups won and was fourth in the league in minutes played and sixth in matchup winning percentage.

According to naturalstattrick.com, Crosby ranks in the top five of all players in the postseason in myriad possession metrics that measure team performance when a player is on the ice in 5v5: goals, shot attempts, shots on goal, scoring opportunities. , “high danger” goalscoring opportunities and “expected goals for”.

In many of those metrics, the only players (or among the only players) ahead of Crosby are the ones he shares the ice with most often: linemates Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel and/or defensemen Kris Letang and John Marine.

“I think everybody wants to play well in the playoffs and I just try to go out there every night and compete,” Crosby said. “I thought (in Game 4) we generated some good opportunities down the line and executed some. So we just want to continue the same way.”

Crosby’s breakout of a series has also strengthened his Hall of Fame statistical resume. He reached 200 career playoff points for him on Monday, one behind Jaromir Jagr for fifth all-time. his 129the His career playoff attendance on Monday tied Nicklas Lidstrom for fifth in NHL history. his 16the His career three-point playoff game tied teammate Evgeni Malkin for second among active players, and his 20the His career postseason power play goal tied Kevin Stevens for third in Penguins history.

“It’s playoff hockey,” Crosby said, “so try to go out there and compete as best you can.”

Stay up to date with the Pittsburgh Penguins throughout the season.

Chris Adamski is a staff writer for Tribune-Review. Chris can be reached via email at [email protected] or via Twitter .




Reference-triblive.com

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