Crosby & Co. Get Rolling In Toronto

Following a season in which Sidney Crosby accomplished more than most players do throughout their entire career, expectations were set even higher for the young lad from Nova Scotia who has become the face of the Pittsburgh Penguins, the National Hockey League and the game of hockey itself. On top of that, Crosby is entering his third NHL season as the undisputed leader of the Penguins at just twenty years of age after being named team captain this past summer. All those heightened expectations seemed to take their toll on Crosby who had gone scoreless through his first three games this season until the real Sidney returned on Saturday against the Maple Leafs on the stage he thrives best on: the biggest one he can possibly find.

Broadcast coast to coast throughout Canada on Hockey Night In Canada, Sidney Crosby returned to form potting his first two markers of the season including the game winner as he led his Pittsburgh Penguins to a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night. Despite the poor result for fans of the Maple Leafs, the game was tremendously entertaining due in part to terrible defensive play at times from both teams leading to a multitude of scoring opportunities. Erik Christensen opened the scoring for the Penguins but the Maple Leafs fought back with three unanswered goals from Darcy Tucker, Nik Antropov and Mats Sundin giving them a 3-1 lead early in the second period. Lucky to be in such a position after surrendering nineteen shots on Vesa Toskala during the opening frame, the Maple Leafs were unable to bear down and solidify their defensive play to carry that lead through to the end of the game.

Instead the Penguins were able to continue peppering Toskala with shots, ending the game with a total of fifty two. Toskala again was the reason why the score was as flattering toward the Maple Leafs as it was by night’s end. Their play inside their own blueline looked a lot more like the kind they displayed during an embarrassing 7-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes this past Tuesday than compared to the much improved defensive play that shut down the New York Islanders on Thursday.

Bryan McCabe, now over a year into his gigantic contract, continued to exhaust the patience of Maple Leaf fans with a disgraceful performance struggling to a (-3) rating, committing several costly turnovers and taking three minor penalties. At a time in his career when most players begin to reach their prime, the quality McCabe’s play almost seems like it is eroding instead of improving.

Conversely another player who drew much criticism during his early years with the Maple Leafs is starting to show why he was given such patience to make his mark. Nik Antropov was arguably the most dominant Maple Leaf against the Penguins scoring once and recording an assist on Mats Sundin’s goal while generating five shots on goal.

The Maple Leafs will travel down the QEW to take on the Buffalo Sabres on Monday in what will be only their second road game of the season.