Penguins' Crosby is on top of his game

Tuesday, April 07, 2009
By Dave Molinari, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/

Steve Mitchell/Associated Press

Panthers defenseman Keith Ballard ard Sidney Crosby fight in the first period Sunday in Sunrise, Fla.


TAMPA, Fla. -- There were a lot of questions and concerns about Sidney Crosby's play earlier this season.

That kind of thing happens when a guy regarded by many as the best in the world at what he does has more than his share of mortal moments.

It was widely noted in hockey circles that his offensive production had become a bit sporadic -- which is to say, several multiple-point games per week weren't a given -- and that his skating wasn't as powerful as usual.

He looked, at times, like a pretty good player. Which, for Sidney Crosby, isn't nearly good enough.

And no one was more aware of it than Crosby.

"December and January, it was just tough," he said. "Whether it was a combination of being a little tired from last year or losing a few [games] and not being able to keep momentum ... whatever it was, I had to try to get my game back."

Well, it worked.

"There's no question he's playing his best hockey now," assistant coach Mike Yeo said. "The effort he goes out there with every shift, you can just see the desperation is there, and his commitment to both sides of the game.

"You see him blocking shots, the way he's playing in his own zone and obviously what he brings offensively.

"When he plays at that level, he's such a great leader because he elevates the rest of the team."

Although Crosby enters the Penguins' game against Tampa Bay tonight at the St. Pete Times Forum with no points in the past two games, that came in the wake of a 12-game scoring streak, a stretch that would have reached 16 if not interrupted by an injury.

Crosby's next point will give him 100 for the third time in four pro seasons. The lone exception was last season, when he had 72 because a high ankle sprain limited him to 53 games.

Whether the lingering effects of that injury, or some other physical problem, played a part in Crosby's struggles earlier this season is unclear.

"I don't know if it was injuries that were slowing him down," defenseman Brooks Orpik said. "Even when he does have injuries, he's not very vocal about it. You never really know with him."
Crosby has regained the burst that was missing from his skating -- "It seems like he has that extra gear again," Orpik said -- and his passion is evident at both ends of the ice. In the Penguins' 3-2 overtime loss at Carolina Saturday, he tied for the team lead by blocking five shots.

"He's a great player and those great players, when you need them the most, they rise to the occasion," Yeo said. "I think he recognized the severity of our situation, what we needed. That's why he's [the captain]."

Whether the Penguins have gone on a 15-3-4 run because Crosby has elevated his game or whether Crosby has benefited from a general upgrade in his teammates' performance is a matter of perspective. Most likely, it's a blend of the two.

"If Sid plays well, it's a big help for us," goalie Marc-Andre Fleury said. "If, all together, we do things well, maybe he doesn't have the pressure to do so much to make us win."

There are, however, at least a couple of outside factors that have contributed to Crosby's resurgence.

Interim coach Dan Bylsma's emphasis on a more up-tempo style plays to Crosby's strengths -- "He's very motivated to play an aggressive style, an attacking style," Yeo said -- and having linemates whose games complement his own obviously is an asset.

After dealing with a revolving door on his wings for much of the season, Crosby has settled in between Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin, both of whom were acquired as the trade deadline approached.

Their arrival not only has allowed the Penguins to restore balance to their forward lines, but also puts Crosby with guys who can get him the puck and work their way into scoring positions to get it from him.

"Obviously, [those acquisitions] benefited our team, but probably if it benefited one individual, it's Sidney Crosby," Yeo said.

It shows, just about every time he steps onto the ice.

"It took a little bit [of time]," Crosby said. "But I feel like I'm back to where I need to be."

And all those question marks from a few months ago have been replaced with exclamation points.

Dave Molinari can be reached at dmolinari@post-gazette.com.
First published on April 7, 2009 at 12:00 am