Penguins/NHL
Sunday Night was another Sidney Crosby gem at age 37 and in year 20………
Draws a penalty in the waning seconds of regulation, ices the game with a snipe in overtime.
| Crosby vs OTT | 5vs5 CF% | 5vs5 SCF% | HDCF% | FO% | SOG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Winning Overtime Goal | 76 CF% (35/11) | 79 SCF% (22/6) | 83 HDCF% (10/2) | 69% (18-for-26) 64% Off-Zone | 6 SOG (TEAM-HIGH) |
Best player on the ice by the mile and there are just zero signs the skill set is diminishing one bit. Just think if you can give this guy who has done everything for this franchise a roster next season that is not bottom-10 esque like it is right now.
What Crosby’s great finish to the season has done and continuing to be among the Top-10 players in the game is ratchet the pressure on management. It’s a monumental summer for Kyle Dubas entering Year 3. Yes, you can argue 7 to 8 of the Top-10 players from a pure talent standpoint on the ice Thursday night against Buffalo were Buffalo Sabres. However, all of the stars are aligning where Dubas can toe-the-line of being aggressive at the NHL level through free agency and trades thanks to a stockpile of draft picks to try to give Sidney Crosby a chance of reaching the postseason again, while also still building for the future. Crosby remaining this good and giving the Penguins a commitment last off-season when management punted on the season back in June/July has set the table. It would be the most disrespectful thing to the franchise icon to try to push being competitive to another year down road. Pittsburgh bought draft picks for much of the last year. Now is the time to cash in on a few of them to return the favor to Crosby who continues to give this team every reason he has at least one more 90-point level season in him.
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— As Sidney Crosby might have been the best player on the ice, defenseman Conor Timmins was a close second. Timmins was downright dominant in the victory, while playing left side. His play through the neutral zone was something else. Always have to be careful during the adrenaline rush stages for newcomers who are playing above their normal ceiling but starting to wonder if the Penguins have something here. It’s been a seamless fit to how Mike Sullivan wants his defensemen to play and that’s often a difficult task for many.
— Could Rickard Rakell get a longer look at center as something to consider next season and move Evgeni Malkin to the wing full-time where he’s probably better suited next season? To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
— League buzz continues to be that Erik Karlsson has little interest To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”! his ever-developing close relationship with To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
— A 31-Save Shutout snapped a four game (0-3-1) losing streak for Tristan Jarry and what all of this means for Jarry next season is a mystery and how the Penguins evaluate his up and downs in the post AHL callup. As a person, though, you have to be happy for Jarry, who is a good family man and very well liked in that room. Good luck finding anyone say a bad word about Jarry the person. The way he responded Sunday was impressive as the Tampa, Buffalo game could have been another crash out for him.
— Injury Buzz: Evgeni Malkin, PO Joseph continue to go through on-ice session away from the main practice group as their returns look to be a game or two off. Tommy Novak is regarded as suffering a 4–6-weeks To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
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Evgeni Malkin’s spot as #2 Center up in air next season?