Nova Scotians taking turns dominating post-season
Nova Scotia's stars are shining brighter than just about anyone so far in the NHL playoffs.
Sidney Crosby and Brad Marchand are tied for second in league scoring with nine points in four games and Nathan Mackinnon isn't far behind in a tie for fifth with six points but he's also tied for the league lead in goals with five. Mackinnon's Colorado Avalanche teammate Cale Makar has a narrow lead in the scoring race with 10 points.
Hammonds Plains' Marchand made his move up the ladder with a five-point effort on Sunday in the Boston Bruins' 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Cole Harbour's Crosby followed suit with a goal and two assists on Monday in the Pittsburgh Penguins' 7-2 victory over the New York Rangers that gave his team a 3-1 series lead.
At 34 years old, some seem surprised Crosby is dominating the way he is but the Penguins captain is also famously competitive so he quickly deflected the suggestion he is overachieving when asked about it during his post-game media session on Monday.
"I don't know, I think everybody wants to play well in the playoffs and I'm just trying to go out there every night and compete," he said. "I thought tonight we generated some good chances as a line and executed on a few so I just want to continue the same way. I haven't really thought about it that way. It's playoff hockey and you just try to go out there and compete the best you can."
Marchand helped the Bruins
tie the Hurricanes 2-2 in their best-of-seven and the 33-year-old winger continues to move up the franchise's alltime lists for playoff production. He's now third in goals with 48, fourth in assists with 68 and fourth in points with 116.
"I mean, if you can't play in these games, what are you playing for?" Marchand said in a media session. "This is what we love and always loved and I think that's just kind of it . ... because it's not just your dreams - it's your whole team's, the organization, it's the whole city that you see kind of come out in these situations and there's a ton of reasons to play and to want to help the team win and I think we all feed off that and look forward to that challenge.
"It's kind of hard to explain because our whole group, we've always kind of been like that. We love the challenge of being in the playoffs and being in tough situations. It doesn't always go your way but when it does it's a hell of a feeling."
Cole Harbour's Mackinnon, meanwhile, will have at least a week off after the Avalanche completed their sweep of the Nashville Predators on Monday. The 26-year-old star centre joked in his media session his only immediate plans were to chill out.
"I'll probably play some video games, hang out and see my dogs," said Mackinnon, who had a goal in the 5-3 Game 4 win.
The Avalanche will face either the St. Louis Blues or Minnesota Wild in the next round. Mackinnon was outspoken about his frustration last year when the Avalanche were knocked out in the first round so he was asked about what's been different so far for Colorado.
"I think every year there's some more experience," he said. "We have a lot deeper team this year and also everyone we brought in has experience and everyone that's back has another year under their belt. But we've got to go perform. Next series we've got to go get it and stay assertive and confident. We can't lose our way like last year.
"But it's a different team we have and we're playing a different team this year so it's a fun challenge and it's not going to be easy. That's why it's the hardest trophy to win."
The Penguins will look to finish off the Rangers on the road on Wednesday.
"I think we know we have a lot of work left and when you're in a game like this, you know you're going to see the other team's best the next time," Crosby said. "They're a good hockey team and we've definitely got an opportunity but we know it's going to be a big challenge going to New York. We've done some good things but like any series you've got to find ways to get better as it goes on, regardless of the outcome. We'll look to do that for Game 5."