SIMPLY GRAND
Video tribute, teammates make occasion special
Sidney Crosby gives girl friend Kathy Leutner a kiss Saturday during pregame ceremonies at PPG Paints Arena saluting his 1,000th game with the Penguins.
Before Sidney Crosby played his 1,000 career game Saturday night, the Penguins feted him with a tribute befitting one of the greatest players in hockey history.
The tribute began in pregame warm-ups, when every Penguins player came down the tunnel wearing a jersey with Crosby’s name and number, 87. When Crosby, as he always does, dropped to a knee to re-tie his skates with a few minutes left in warm-ups, all of his teammates did it, too, getting a good laugh out ofit.
Just before Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena, the Penguins showed on the Jumbotron a touching five-minute video featuring Crosby’s family, a couple of his childhood idols and his two longtime teammates.
It spliced spectacular goals, passes, defensive plays and other highlights over his 15 years in the league along with messages from NHLers past and present.
“I feel very fortunate that I had the opportunity to play with you and watch your career over the last 15 years,” Mario Lemieux said. “It’s been amazing.”
Crosby looked up to Lemieux, the Penguins coowner and his rookie-year teammate, as a hockey prodigy growing up in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia.
He also greatly admired Steve Yzerman, a former Detroit Red Wings center. So he surely thought it was a nice surprise to see him pop upin the video.
“You’ve had a tremendous career to this point. I’m sure there’s many, many more great years ahead for you,” Yzerman said. “I wish you the best of luck.”
Among the current NHL players who congratulated Crosby were Steven Stamkos, Patrick Kane and John Tavares. Plus, Kris Letangand Evgeni Malkin, of course.
“Three Cups. Conn Smythes. Hart Trophies. You did it all,” Letang said late in the video. “And it was a pleasure for me to be next to you for all those great moments. But the most important thing is you’re going to be my friend forever.”
Crosby stood alongside his longtime girlfriend, Kathy Leutner, while watching the video. Near the end of it, the 33-year-old captain started to get misty-eyed.
After the video, the Penguins gifted Crosby a mosaic featuring a photo from every one of his games to that point, along with a silver stick. His Penguins teammates also chipped in to buy Crosby a shiny commemorative watch.
Sullivan defends Matheson
The Islanders weren’t too thrilled with Mike Matheson Thursday after the Penguins defenseman in the third period-received a minor penalty for boarding after he shoved All-Star center Mathew Barzal from behind into the wall.
Matt Martin went after Mathesona few minutes later and eventually got tossed by the referees. Asked about Matheson’s hit after the game, Islanders forward Brock Nelson said the Islanders would “make it hard on him moving forward.”
Prior to Saturday’s rematch, Sullivan was asked for his thoughts on the hit.
“I don’t think Mike’s a
dirty player,” he said. “Mathew Barzal is a real dynamic player. He’s elusive. I think he was simply trying to defend the best he could and it was unfortunate the way it happened. But I don’t think therewas intent.”
Rust remains adaptable
For the second consecutivegame, Bryan Rust started out on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Jason Zucker. That trio provided two goals, one an empty-netter, in Thursday’s 4-1 win over the Islanders. So coach Mike Sullivan kept them together.
Rust recently clicked with Crosby and Jake Guentzel and had a ton of success with Malkin in 2019-20. Playing with elite talents isn’t as easy asone might think, especially considering how Crosby and Malkin have vastly different styles.
“I try to focus mainly on myself,” Rust explained. “Obviously, there’s different tendencies different centers like to have. I’ve been able to take mental note, especially with Sid and Geno, kind of how they play … and what spots they will be in in certain situations. That’s just kind of helped us be more successful.”
Playing ‘real games’
The team on Friday promoted forwards Jordy Bellerive and Josh Currie and goalie Emil Larmi from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to the taxi squad. Forwards Frederick Gaudreau and Anthony Angello and goalie Maxime Lagace, who had been on the taxi squad since the season began, went to the American-Hockey League.
Asked on Saturday to explain those moves, Sullivan said the primary reason was that the Penguins were “concerned about guys not playing in real games.”
“To practice on the taxi squad for an extended length of time and not participate in any sort of game action, in our mind, doesn’t put them in the best possible position to be successful [individually] or help the Penguins,” the coach said.
Sure enough, Gaudreau, Angello and Lagace were all in uniform Saturday afternoon for Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton. Lagace allowed two goals on 29 shots in a 3-1 loss to the Hershey Bears. Gaudreau and Angello were held without a point.