Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid squared off again recently.
Tell me if you’ve heard this before: Sidney Crosby had a hyped up, individual matchup against another top-tier player, but the game came down to the other talent in the Penguins’ roster. Sound familiar? If not, check out the history of the Alex Ovechkin – Sidney Crosby rivalry.
Last week, Connor McDavid and his Edmonton Oilers took on Sidney Crosby and his Pittsburgh Penguins in a game touted for having the two best players in the game. The question was asked if Crosby, the older and established champion, still reigned supreme or if McDavid had surpassed the player ten years his senior. Despite McDavid getting a goal and sporting a +1 rating compared to Crosby scoring zero points and only an even rating, it was Crosby and the Penguins who took home the victory on the strength of a Phil Kessel overtime goal assisted by Evgeni Malkin. At least in the first of the matchups this season, the Penguins showed that their depth of elite talent gave them the edge over the Oilers.
Fans didn’t have to wait long to see the two players face off again as the Pittsburgh Penguins visited the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night. McDavid again dazzled in the game, earning two assists, one of which was on a highlight reel play as he put the puck through defenseman Olli Maatta’s legs before passing on his backhand for his linemate Leon Draisaitl to deposit into an open net. At times, McDavid’s speed created chances as he flew down the ice and beat the Penguins’ defense. The kid looked good all night, and his two assists mean he factored in on both of Edmonton’s goals for the night.
However, Sidney Crosby made his presence felt as well. Crosby’s assist came on a play where he collected a less-than-perfect pass while skating at full speed into the zone, then he put a perfect pass (backhanded too) onto the tape of Conor Sheary for a big goal at the end of the second period. Also, Crosby again showed that his understanding of being a great hockey player goes beyond performing the flashy plays. He opened the game with a solid body check on defenseman Adam Larsson, setting the tone for a Penguins team looking to bounce back from an embarrassing loss in Winnipeg on Sunday. McDavid may have outscored Crosby, but the Penguins’ captain still impacted the game positively.
Just as when the two teams met last week, the hard-fought contest came down to the players just behind Crosby and McDavid on the game’s billing. Unfortunately for McDavid and the Oilers, those players play for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Evgeni Malkin scored more than halfway through the third period to break a tie, and Phil Kessel and Kris Letang assisted on the goal. Matt Murray held the fort in goal, making several spectacular saves to hold onto the lead, but before the night was over, Crosby once again showed his commitment to winning by laying his body down in front of a shot from the point before time expired. Penguins 3 – Oilers 2.
McDavid might get more points than Crosby again this season, but until he finds a way to do all those little things that ensure victory, it will be difficult to steal the title of best player in the NHL away from Crosby. Of course, the contributions of Malkin, Kessel, Letang, and Murray helping the Penguins win don’t hurt the cause for those in favor of Crosby over McDavid. For now, the Penguins and their fans can point to the two W’s Crosby got over McDavid this season when people question the supremacy of their captain, but for hockey fans in general, we should all hope to see a round 3 between these two generational talents this season, sometime around the end of May.
