Maritimers chasing magical milestone

Crosby, MacKinnon, Marchand all have shot at topping 100 points

HALIFAX— Nova Scotia’s star hockey trio is on the verge of accomplishing something the small Canadian province has never seen before.

Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche and Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins each have more than 80 points this season. With less than a month left in the NHL’s regular season, all three star forwards now have a shot at reaching 100 points.

“I don’t know if we will ever see this again,” Montreal Canadiens TSN play-by-play man Dan Robertson said of having them all in the running at the same time.

“It’s a small province, but it speaks to how hockey is really strong and healthy.”

Robertson, who is from Trenton, N.S., called games for EastLink TV when Crosby, MacKinnon and Marchand skated in the QMJHL.

Should even two of the three hit the sought-after point figure, it will mark the first time more than one Nova Scotiaborn player has done so — during a single season — in league history.

In fact, only three Nova Scotia players to date can say they ever have.

Crosby, from Cole Harbour, N.S., has already done it five times in the NHL. The last time came during the 2013-14 campaign when he finished with104 points.

Hall of fame defenceman Al MacInnis, of Port Hood, N.S., surpassed 100 points with the Calgary Flames. He reached103 points during the 1990-91 season.

Bobby Smith, who was born in North Sydney, N.S., but moved to Ottawa at an early age, also reached the 100-point plateau with the Minnesota North Stars during the 1981-82 season, notching 114 points.

Statistically, Crosby and MacKinnon have the best shot at reaching 100 points. Crosby, with13 games left, has 88 points and a point-per-game average of 1.33. MacKinnon, who is also from Cole Harbour and has 13 games remaining as well, sits at 87 points with a point-pergame average of 1.26. MacKinnon’s career-best point total came a season ago when he finished with 97.

The long-shot to reach 100 points is Marchand, who is from Hammonds Plains, N.S. The Bruins fan-favourite has 82 points with 13 games left, with a point-per-game average of 1.22.

The player Robertson is most surprised to see fighting for 100 points is Marchand. His career high is 85 points, which he reached in each of the past two years.

“This guy is just unbelievable. He just exceeds expectations,” he said. “I don’t think people realize how he good he is. He can be a pain — and I think that can take away from it sometimes.

“And the fact Sid is doing what he is doing … He doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all,” he added.

“And Nathan, he is just electrifying.”

Another point of note is where the trio currents sits among the NHL’s best snipers. Crosby went into action Monday night alone in fourth spot for most points, with MacKinnon fifth and Marchand tied for 10th.

“If you are from Nova Scotia, you have to be proud of them,” Robertston said, noting some love to hate the players based on who they play for.

“They are all spectacular in their own special ways.”