PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Sidney Crosby: 13 goals, 21 assists, 23 games
Perhaps bigger than Sidney Crosby's and Evgeni Malkin's big games have been the ones in between.
The Penguins' duo has recorded 17 points in the past three games, but consistency has been the root of their success this season.
"We want to make sure that every night we're creating chances," Crosby said. "In that area, we need to lead by example. Consistency is big, and we want to make sure we're leading in that area every game."
The steady production can, in part, be attributed to Crosby's and Malkin's growth and maturity. In Crosby's fourth NHL season and Malkin's third, they have lived up to lofty expectations. Malkin leads the league with 39 points, including 10 goals. Crosby is second in the league with 34 points, including 13 goals.
"There are gonna be games your legs aren't there, or mentally it's a lot tougher than every other game," center Jordan Staal said. "Those are the games great players find a way to contribute somehow and have a good game even though they're not at their best. That's when good players come out."
There have only been three games this season - out of 23 - when the duo did not record any points. The Penguins are 1-2 in those games.
Crosby was pointless in six games, and the Penguins went 2-4. The Penguins are 1-2 when Malkin doesn't produce.
"Consistency is a big part of any athlete's game, not only those guys, but any players out there," coach Michel Therrien said. "That's a challenge for players to try to be consistent. I'm sure they take a lot of pride in their games, and you gotta be pleased with their consistency."
It's a bit of a rarity when Crosby and Malkin skate together, considering they anchor the first and second lines, respectively. They are paired on the power-play attack and have scored a combined six goals in man-advantage situations.
When Crosby and Malkin play together, it's always fun to watch.
The two clicked when Malkin assisted on two of Crosby's three goals against the Devils on Saturday night.
Evgeni Malkin: 10 goals, 29 assists, 23 games
Particularly impressive was a four-on-four situation in which Malkin fell to the ice after he was checked into the boards by Devils forward Zach Parise. Malkin got up without hesitation, won the race to the puck and set up Crosby's goal, which gave the Penguins a 3-0 lead midway through the second period.
"It's fun," Crosby said, of playing with Malkin. "That's really the best way to describe it. We can go out there and make some plays, hopefully, that other teams don't always expect. The nice thing is it's hard to focus on one of us when we're both out there."
Malkin and Crosby each recorded a hat trick and a four-point game in the past week after being held pointless in a Nov. 22 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
The big games might attract more chatter, but those every-day performances are what have the Penguins off to a 14-6-3 start and in second place behind the New York Rangers in the Atlantic Division.
"Every game they seem to be there and ready to play," Staal said. "Both of them are so competitive, and they hate losing. They are great leaders on this team. It's a lot of fun playing with them."
Tricia Lafferty can be reached at tlafferty@tribweb.com or 412-380-5666.
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