We’ve hit the quarter mark of the season.
Fans can finally see whether their teams are contenders or bust. Whether they can communicate well or lack chemistry. Whether upper management made the right call or was too optimistic during the off-season.
There is one team that seems to be having many hockey fans scratching their heads, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The usual top contending team looks as though they are coasting through the season. We’re used to seeing Marc-Andre Fleury’s incredible saves, Evgeni Malkin flying through defenders, and the blue liners dominating the ice. Now, they do not look like the Penguins we’ve grown to hate.
However, the most surprising factor is the absence of their captain, and face of the league, Sidney Crosby. In 20 games, Crosby has only scored 3 goals and accumulated 11 points. Last season by this time, he had scored 8 goals with 26 points.
Crosby is nowhere near the top of any list. So what’s going on?
All signs point to chemistry. Crosby was paired with newcomer, Phil Kessel, until recently. Obviously the two top scorers lacked communication, and likely trust, as Kessel has only been able to gain 14 points. Crosby is at his best when he’s on the same line as Pascal Dupuis or Chris Kunitz. Anyone can clearly see that. Why would any coach want to separate those three?
Then comes in Mike Johnston. Crosby could possibly be lacking the guidance, the confidence, he received from former coach Dan Bylsma. After the team and Bylsma parted ways after the 2013-2014 season, many saw an era coming to an end.
Johnston had some pretty big shoes to fill and no time to waste. Under his wing, the Penguins barely made it into the playoffs, only to get knocked out by the New York Rangers in the first round after 5 games.
We could blame Crosby, the team, and the coach for his lack of performance. However, we are also clearly leaving out another major reason: maybe the other teams have just figured him out. Crosby has been held back from getting 3 or more shots on goal in all but four games. Three of those games, he didn’t even get a shot. We shouldn’t be blaming Crosby for not bringing his A-game on this one. We should be commending the defenders for possibly finally figuring him out. One of the top scorers has finally been beaten, his strategies have finally been calculated, but we sit around claiming Crosby lost his game. We should applaud those defenders for being able to read Crosby’s mind and stop him from doing damage.
Crosby has so much pressure riding on his shoulders since they haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 2009. He was supposed to be the next Messiah, sorry, Gretzky. He was supposed to start a dynasty in Pittsburgh. But he has failed to do so.
The hangover of last season could still be on his mind. The loss of Bylsma and teammate James Neal may be affecting his performance. Although, things may be looking up! Crosby recently scored his third goal, which won the Penguins the game. This could possibly be the beginning of the captain taking charge of his team.
If not, MAN OVERBOARD!
Danielle E. Meegan
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