Penguins’ Crosby back to being a special player
TORONTO — Brandon Dubinsky possesses ample respect for Sidney Crosby, but it doesn’t mean he wants to devote much time to dissecting the evolution of his game.
Three days before the Blue Jackets center renews his fierce rivalry with the Pittsburgh Penguins star, Dubinsky was asked to compare Crosby’s current form with what he saw from him early last season when arguably the game’s top player had appeared to lose his way.
“I haven’t really been paying too much attention,” Dubinsky said Sunday night. “The games that we play
against him, obviously he’s dangerous. He’s one of the best in the world. I have always said that. But outside of that, I haven’t taken notice of his game, and frankly I don’t really care about his game too much. I’m just focused on my own game and focused on our team’s game.”
Dubinsky will see plenty of Crosby over the next fortnight as the Blue Jackets and Penguins begin their Stanley Cup playoffs opening-round series in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
The defending champions aren’t at full strength with standout defenseman Kris Letang (herniated disc) out for the playoffs and center Evgeni Malkin returning from a shoulder injury. But the Penguins have a chance to repeat because Crosby is quietly enjoying one of his best seasons.
Amid the attention being paid to Washington’s bid to win its first Cup and the playoff debuts of Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, the Penguins center continues one of the better 16-month runs in hockey history. In that span, Crosby has won the Stanley Cup and World Cup — taking home MVP honors in both — and the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy given to the NHL’s leading goal scorer.
He scored 44 goals in 75 games as the Penguins finished with the league’s second-best record. He also had two assists in Pittsburgh’s 4-1 win over the Blue Jackets on April 4 to help secure home-ice advantage in the first round.
At the start of last season, Crosby’s offensive production dipped noticeably. He registered just six goals and 13 assists in his first 30 games — good numbers for many players but not a generational talent like “Sid The Kid.”
Some wondered if his history of concussions had forced him into becoming a perimeter player. Others pointed to the system employed by former Penguins coach Mike Johnson.
“He was not getting the puck as the Penguins were exiting the zone,” NBC hockey analyst Ed Olczyk said. “I think it had a lot more to do with the system. It just wasn’t going for him. ... He just wasn’t getting the puck in the speed zone — the top of the circle to the far blueline. If anyone thought he was on the 17th (hole) of his career, I mean, come on.”
Coincidence or not, Crosby’s game and the Penguins’ fortunes improved after Mike Sullivan was named coach on Dec. 12, 2015. Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella, a good friend of Sullivan, believes the Pens’ bench boss deserves some credit for the way he’s able to handle star players and alter the “demeanor” of a team.
Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson knows the big challenge his longtime friend Crosby presents in the series.
“He’s a special player,” Johnson said. “He’s going to be a pain in the (butt) for us in the series, but that’s what makes it fun. When you play in the playoffs, you play against the best teams and best players, and he’s one of them.”