Sid is no longer The Kid, but still among NHL's elite

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (26-21-8) AT VANCOUVER CANUCKS (38-16-6)

When: Tonight, 7 p.m.

Where: Rogers Arena

TV: SN Pacific

Radio: Sportsnet 650

The buzz: Sidney Crosby is 36 and playing like he's 26. The ageless Penguins captain struck for four points Sunday (1-3) in a 7-6 win over Philadelphia, and has 32 goals and 60 points on the season.

He has eight points in his last five games (4-4), 24 points (12-12) in the last 20 games, and is on pace for 47 goals and 89 points. It would be his second-highest career goal output, exceeded only by 51 goals in 2009-10. It was the same season he scored the historic Golden Goal as Canada claimed 2010 Olympic gold in Vancouver.

None of this surprises Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.

As an assistant coach for three seasons in Pittsburgh, he marvelled at Crosby's unwavering drive, dedication and desire to be among the NHL elite.

“We played him more than a month ago and he was the best player on the ice,” Tocchet recalled Sunday of a 4-3 Canucks overtime win at Pittsburgh on Jan. 11 in which Crosby scored twice to force the extra session, finished with five shots, seven attempts, six hits and won 58 per cent of faceoffs.

It was quite the compliment. Elias Pettersson had the breakaway winner and a four-point effort to give the slick Swede seven goals on a four-game heater and nine goals in six games. But he's 25. What Crosby is doing with 11 more years on the hockey odometer is simply amazing.

“The one thing people don't understand is that Sid doesn't cheat. He plays a 200-foot game. If he really wanted to — and I keep telling people this — he could have 20 more points this year,” said Tocchet.

The Canucks turned their game around Saturday with a spectacular rally late in the third period to force overtime and claim a playoff-style 3-2 decision over the Boston Bruins. Mind and body were in sync and a pre-game meeting ensured the Canucks were ready for the litmus test.

The history: The Canucks also got two first-period goals from Brock Boeser and three assists from J.T. Miller in the Jan. 11 meeting. They killed off all four Penguin power plays, and Thatcher Demko made 32 saves.

The hope: Deploying Pettersson, Miller, Elias Lindholm and Teddy Blueger down the middle continues to provide balance. Ilya Mikheyev was better on Pettersson's flank Saturday, but 28 games without a goal? Hasn't scored since Dec. 17 in Chicago.

The fear: That the four-on-three overtime power-play goal Saturday by Boeser was a one-and-done. It ended a dreary run of one-for-28 over the previous nine games. Shooting and attacking the net must become the norm.

The top guns: Miller has nine points (5-4) in his last four games and was tied for fifth in NHL scoring with 79 points (29-50) before Monday's slate of NHL games. Pettersson has one goal in his last eight games and was tied for 10th with 74 points (29-45). Quinn Hughes has five assists in his last seven games and was 13th with 70 points (12-58).

The wounded: Canucks: Dakota Joshua (hand, week to week, IR), Carson Soucy (hand, week to week, LTIR), Guillaume Brisebois (concussion, LTIR). Penguins: Jake Guentzel (upper body, day to day), Bryan Rust (upper body, gametime decision), Matt Nieto (lower body, IR).

THE LINEUP: Forward lines

Hoglander-Pettersson-Mikheyev Suter-Miller-Boeser Bains-Lindholm- Garland Di Giuseppe-Blueger-Lafferty

Defence pairings

Hughes-Hronek Cole-Myers Zadorov-Juulsen

The prediction: Canucks prevail in five-on-five test with 4-2 decision.