Crosby More Than Just a Scorer

Crosby More Than Just a Scorer

Justin Dahan (HV)

Despite the fact that Crosby hadn’t scored a goal in his first three games to kick off the 2007/2008 season, we all know how dangerous Sid the Kid can be, so it wasn’t a surprise on Saturday when Crosby dominated the Maple Leafs and scored two goals. What was a surprise was his scuffle with Nik Antropov in the second period.

In the second period Crosby and Antropov started grappling behind the play, and Crosby threw some gloved punches to the back of Antropov’s head. Not something that is part of Crosby’s usual game. “That’s hockey, I haven’t changed my role, I’m not going to pretend I’m the tough guy but it’s an intense game, that stuff happens,” Crosby said about the scuffle.

Last year Crosby grew a bit of a reputation for taking dives and whining. With his new, tougher persona Crosby looks like he’s aiming to dispel rumors that he can’t stick up for himself and needs tough guy Georges Laraque to fight for him.

Laraque was scratched due to a minor injury when Crosby and the Penguins faced off against the Maple Leafs, perhaps if he was in the game Crosby would not have stood up for himself, perhaps Antropov wouldn’t have done whatever it was that upset Crosby. Regardless, Crosby proved that if pushed he will push back.

After the game Antropov commented on how the fray between him and Crosby broke out “He just didn’t like the way I covered him,” he said. Whatever he did, it certainly incensed Crosby into grappling with the 6’6 Antropov.

Crosby not only displayed his physicality, he also put on a clinic of skills. He was all over the ice setting up his teammates repeatedly, especially on the power play, and was able to notch his first two goals of the season, his second being the winning goal of a 6-4 win against the Leafs.

When Crosby was asked how good it was to get his first goal out of the way he said, “To be honest I knew it was just a matter of time.” There’s a player who knows not to rush things and allow himself to be caught up in a “slump”. Could Crosby’s start even be considered a slump? He had two assists in his first three games. To most players that seems like a pretty good start. That’s almost at a point per game, but for Crosby it wasn’t up to par.

Last year, in only his second year, at 19 years old Crosby led the league in points with 120. This year Crosby was made the captain of the Penguins; the youngest captain in NHL history. With that comes even more expectations for Crosby who is already expected to exceed his 120 point year this season.