Crosby's star turn
Still, any way you look at it, he's having an incredible playoff.
Crosby's 26 points are tied for the third-best total in the past 10 playoffs, two behind the best performance (Eric Staal in 2006) over that period. Crosby has also posted 20 assists, the first time we've seen that mark hit in 14 years. (Doug Gilmour and Brian Leetch put up 22 and 23 with the Leafs and Rangers in 1994.)
Crosby is also just the 14th player in NHL history to record 20 assists in one playoff year (Gretzky has done it six of the 21 times it has occurred).
If you factor in his age, the numbers are even more impressive:
Top playoff point totals, age 22 and under
| Rk | Player | Year | Tm | GP | G | A | PTS | PTS/G |
| 1 | Wayne Gretzky | 1983 | EDM | 16 | 12 | 26 | 38 | 2.38 |
| 2 | Steve Payne | 1981 | MNS | 19 | 17 | 12 | 29 | 1.53 |
| 3 | Eric Staal | 2006 | CAR | 25 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 1.12 |
| 4 | Sidney Crosby | 2008 | PIT | 19 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 1.37 |
| 5 | Jaromir Jagr | 1992 | PIT | 21 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 1.14 |
| 6 | Raymond Bourque | 1983 | BOS | 17 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 1.35 |
| 7 | Jari Kurri | 1983 | EDM | 16 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 1.44 |
| 8 | Jeremy Roenick | 1992 | CHI | 18 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 1.22 |
| 9 | Paul Coffey | 1984 | EDM | 19 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 1.16 |
| 10 | Craig Janney | 1990 | BOS | 18 | 3 | 19 | 22 | 1.22 |
Top playoff point totals, age 20 and under
| Age (May 1) | ||||||||||
| Rk | Player | Year | Tm | GP | G | A | PTS | PTS/G | Years | Mths |
| 1 | Sidney Crosby | 2008 | PIT | 19 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 1.37 | 20 | 9 |
| 2 | Jaromir Jagr | 1992 | PIT | 21 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 1.14 | 20 | 3 |
| 3 | Brent Sutter | 1983 | NYI | 20 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 1.05 | 20 | 11 |
| 4 | Wayne Gretzky | 1981 | EDM | 9 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 2.33 | 20 | 4 |
| 5 | Don Maloney | 1979 | NYR | 18 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 1.11 | 20 | 8 |
| 6 | Mike Modano | 1991 | MNS | 23 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 0.87 | 20 | 11 |
| 7 | Jeremy Roenick | 1990 | CHI | 20 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 0.90 | 20 | 4 |
| 8 | Adam Deadmarsh | 1996 | COL | 22 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 0.77 | 20 | 11 |
| 9 | Claude Lemieux | 1986 | MTL | 20 | 10 | 6 | 16 | 0.80 | 20 | 10 |
| 10 | Craig Janney | 1988 | BOS | 23 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 0.70 | 20 | 7 |
No matter your opinion of Sid the Kid, that's quite the performance. And he's also one of only three Penguins that is in the plus department in the finals.
He's got a chance tomorrow to add to those totals.
.
Labels: Crosby, Penguins, Statistics
by James Mirtle @ 6:40 PM
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18 comments
18 Comments:
All hail Crosby, down the others. Why do I see these posts all over the net. Best headline I have seen was 'Crosby's Penguins' I mean really?...geez. Crosby and rest lowlifes could be good too, and I bet soon to come:)
You make a good point and he is a really good player. However, I am so sick of this kid.
Go Wings!
There's no denying his talent level. That said, I don't think he's currently the "best" player in the game, but he's sure enshrined like it's so. Not his fault, as you pointed out.
The problem I have with him is that he's a whiny little beotch at times. He comes across as having the "I can dish it out but can't take it" syndrome. If one had a dollar for every time he glared at the referee in disbelief ...
Maybe (hopefully) all of that will improve with age. But to myself, and the vast majority of my hockey loving cronies, rightly or wrongly, we can't stand him because of it.
What player doesn't get mad at the refs? I have not seen a lot of player not get mad on calls that put them in the box. So many other players do it more than him, so you would have more money if you picked another player. Usually, he tries to talk to the refs because he's captain and try to get them to notice things. Sid puts over 100% of passion into his game and he's gonna be upset. I think you notice it more because they always have a camera on him even when he's drinking water. (Look at him drinking the Fiji water ... sorry, Errey joke ...)
I understand that people don't like Crosby because of the attention but don't blame him. I actually don't mind them hating Crosby ... he still draws in the ratings doesn't he? He still plays well? 'Nuff said.
Thanks, Mirtle.
It's silly to be 'sick' of this guy. His talent is enormous and, health willing, he'll be around a long time. Fercrisake, he's only 20. Why is it people resent those who have talent?
Why is it people resent those who have talent?
They resent having it shoved in their face.
the whole "crosby is a whiner" bit gets ridiculously old. It originated in Philly on a night where he got absolutely obliterated on a no-call by Hatcher, and its been rampant ever since. Part of me wants to fast forward 20 years so everyone will be able to remember him as an amazing player--because you know who else had to deal with this "he's a whining, diving, no-talent loser?" boloney? Wayne Gretzky.
Lemieux too.
As an oldtimer, compared to many here, let me just say - enjoy this kid. Great skill. Hard nosed. He's something.
Ignore the commercials and concentrate on the player. Remember, he is twenty. Time will iron out his game nicely, it already is.
Kid is a genius player.
Sidney is a sure talent, and will undoubtedly only get better. His apparent whiny antics will probably fade with maturity - he is only 20 years old after all. But I will say this - after three years, I'm more impressed by what I've seen from Ovechkin than I am Crosby (especially given the supporting cast historically surrounding each player).
I guess some fans are simply put off that so much attention falls on one guy, who - while greatly gifted - is certainly not the only young superstar around. But, I'm sure if Crosby had his way, the focus would be more widespread. You can hardly blame him for the narrow focus of the media and the NHL marketing crew.
Marklar
"the whole 'crosby is a whiner' bit gets ridiculously old. It originated in Philly on a night where he got absolutely obliterated on a no-call by Hatcher, and its been rampant ever since."
No. He's been a whiner since juniors.
Personally, I don't like him because I don't like HIM. Someone explain why we're always expected to like an athlete just because they're good.
a whiner since juniors? Did you even watch this kid in the juniors? He had no reason to whine. He steamrolled everyone.
The whole "whiney" thing is kind of an interesting topic, though. Too bad James couldn't get any hard data on the # of times a player talked a ref after a play/call (if that's what we're defining as whining). I think you'd find that (FILL IN YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER HERE...especially if said player wears an A or C) is a rampant "whiner."
There seems to be some weird desire for fans to emasculate any player who doesn't play like a "real man" (i.e. doesn't hit every damn thing in sight) ... which pretty much means any great sniper who's ever lived (Jagr got it too).
RE: Crosby v. Ovechkin. I'd go so far as to agree that they are too ridiculously amazing players that are going to be fun to watch for a long time, and will likely go neck-and-neck in getting top honors every year. Ovechkin's a pure goal scorer and looks great doing it, and Crosby is the best setup man I've seen in a long time. One thing is for sure, hockey in Pittsburgh and Washington will be a great thing to watch for years to come.
"the whole 'crosby is a whiner' bit gets ridiculously old. It originated in Philly on a night where he got absolutely obliterated on a no-call by Hatcher, and its been rampant ever since."
Can you honestly say that it was the narrative in junior? No, absolutely not. It really did begin when Hitchcock complained about Crosby 'whining' to the ref after having Derian Hatcher cross-check some chiclets out of his mouth.
Then lazy journalism took over and made that the narrative: Super talented, young, next one, very whiny.
I am Ovechkin's fan, but have to admit, Crosby is doing real well in these series. He didn't score in the last game, but he was everywhere. Good for him.
I have no problem with Crosby. I agree with black dog, having seen Gretzky and Lemieux go through the same thing.
I do have an observance though relating to the harshness that Crosby seems to have inherited and not Ovechkin (comparable because they'll always be judged as rivals).
I always question how big the backlash would be if Crosby jumped around like a lunatic after every goal much like Ovechkin does?
Crosby would probably be burned at the stake no?
Disclaimer: I have no problem with Ovechkin either.
"Why is it people resent those who have talent?
They resent having it shoved in their face."
Shouldn't they resent the media and not the player then? Or are you on the ice when Crosby dominates, and thus, are having his talent shoved in your face?
If Sid is so untalented and/or not respected by his peers, then why is it that his PEERS voted him for the Lester B. Pearson Award ?
Crosby seems to get an awfully unfair hard time on the Oilogosphere but he's quite simply an amazing player. When people say he's a whiner I can't help but think, 'ya, people said Gretzky was a whiner too...'
If there was any doubt whether Malkin is better than Crobsy I think the finals have erased it.
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