http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/calgary-flames/index.html
November 27, 2010
Sidney Crosby (87) of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his 200th career goal with Evgeni Malkin (71) against the Calgary Flames at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Penguins defeated the Flames 4-1.Photograph by: Justin K. Aller, Getty Images
A reporter posed the obvious question Saturday afternoon to Mark Giordano as the Calgary Flames packed up their bags for the long flight home.
Is there any possible way to contain Sidney Crosby when he's dialled in, like he is right now?
Giordano paused for a brief second and offered up an honest response.
"Well, I don't think so," the dependable rearguard said in the aftermath of a 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. "If there is, no one has really figured it out."
The Calgary Flames certainly haven't figured it out. But they're far from alone in that category.
Sid the Grown-up is riding a 12-game point streak. With the sixth hat-trick of his career Saturday, he vaulted over Steven Stamkos into the penthouse of the National Hockey League scoring race with 18 goals and 40 points in 25 games.
On Saturday, he very nearly pulled off a Mario trick by scoring five different ways. He capitalized at even-strength and on the power-play. In the final minute, he whipped one in short-handed into an empty net.
And he came so, so close to scoring on a penalty shot just 4:14 into the proceedings.
"Crosby had a great game," Flames captain Jarome Iginla said of his Olympic linemate. "He showed why he's the best in the game right now."
No argument there. The Flames are probably still trying to figure out how No. 87 slinked into the background on a second-period rush with Chris Kunitz.
Somehow, Robyn Regehr and Jay Bouwmeester lost track of Crosby. Kunitz feathered a pass through the slot, and Crosby banged it into the open cage.
"I just kind of fell off to the side of the net and got lost," Crosby said. "He made a great play to get it to me."
On his second goal, Crosby waded into the high-traffic, high-punishment area code in the slot and tipped a Paul Martin point-shot home.
The puck is a keepsake, as that was his 200th career goal.
Yes, he's only 23. The former Timbit player from Cole Harbour, N.S., is on pace for a career-high of 59 goals (he scored 51 last season.)
Heading into the season, did he set a goal for the number of goals he wanted to score?
"No.," he said. Last year I felt like I shot a lot and did everything I needed to do, and obviously the puck went in. I don't have a number in mind You just have a certain way you want to play and hope that results in goals - doesn't mean it always does. You're going to hit posts, miss chances. But, no, no total. You just have an idea of what you want to do to be successful."
The latest installment of Crosby brilliance was met with shrugs in the Pittsburgh locker-room.
"He's been outstanding," Craig Adams said, "as we've come to expect of him."
The Flames, however, made a point of paying homage to one of the great stars in the history of the game. The handle "Sid the Kid" no longer applies.
"An elite-level player like him has great creativity in his game and has a tremendous skill set," said Calgary head coach Brent Sutter. "He's a tough guy to defend, because he is so strong. He is a north-south guy. He gets into the really tough areas and creates chances for his linemates and his team.
"It's because of his work ethic and how hard he plays every shift."
Giordano could only shake his head.
"He seems to find those spots," he said. "I thought our game plan was to play him hard. And we were playing hard. He's one of those guys who, when he gets a chance, he'll make it count.
"He's the best player in the game for a reason."
vhall@calgaryherald.com
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