PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Sidney Crosby didn't play well enough in the series loss to the Islanders. He had two points for the entire series, 21 total shots, lost more face offs than he won.
Who is the first person to agree with that, the Pens captain.
"I feel like I didn't make a big play whether it was overtime or adding to a lead when we are up 2-1," Crosby said Wednesday night. "I look at some chances that I had. Those kind of things are so important. You can't overlook the importance of those."
While you can discuss whether or not the plus/minus in hockey is a truly valid stat. Crosby was a minus 3 in the elimination game and a minus 2 for the series. Crosby was on the ice for every goal when the lead changed Wednesday night.
"Two of those, I'm right beside the guy and don't make a play," Crosby said. "I don't feel like any of those were grabbing momentum. They were quick hits, quick plays. Probably when they tied it at 3 and got that quick one, they got some momentum off of that."
"Even with that I feel like we pushed really hard. That was a big part of our team all year. We came back and had a lot of belief that we could score goals. We kept pushing. Just unfortunate that we got a start like that and got those leads especially in a game like this and weren't able to hold it."
Yet they weren't, time after time. They go home again, winners of four of their last 19 playoff games.
"We did a lot of good things," Crosby said. "So much of this series we had the lead. We felt comfortable about our game. We didn't feel like we were on our heels very much at all during the series. It's such a small margin for error."
This time Crosby couldn't get them over the top. He didn't play well enough.
For all of the great things Crosby has done from the day the ping-pong ball fell in the Pens favor and they drafted Sid first overall. He helped saved the franchise, at least kept it in Pittsburgh. He won three Stanley Cups. Is an example on-and-off the ice of what we want our athletes to be.
Wednesday night and for the entire series, Crosby is a reason they didn't advance.
"I feel like I didn't make a big play."
Part of what will keep Crosby forever great is admitting it.
