Honestly I don’t know if Sidney Crosby gets enough credit

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Along with the fighting and the odd-man rushes, the transitions allowed, an early storyline with the Pens-Flyers series is where was Sidney Crosby?

The Pens captain who made a career of destroying the Flyers had no points, four penalty minutes and was a minus two over the first couple of games. Over the first three games, a minus three, one assist and six penalty minutes.

Over these two wins its been a different Crosby, he was the player of the game with the season on the line Saturday in Philadelphia with a goal and an assist and then Monday at PPG Paints Arena, a pair of assists, a plus two and no penalty minutes.

“It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone in this room,” said Pens head coach Dan Muse with reporters. “When things get hard and backs are against the wall, there is no doubt in my mind that he’s going to lead the charge in terms of elevating and finding a way to do everything possible to help this team win a hockey game.”

He owns postseason records of career goals and points against the Flyers, but all-time in the Stanley Cup playoffs:

• 5^th in points (206)
• 5^th in assists (134), 3 behind Paul Coffey
• 16^th in goals (72)-4 behind Mario Lemieux and 5 behind Alex Ovechkin
• 3^rd in multi-point games (69)

It’s the first year for Muse to work with Crosby. The head coach is just five years older than his captain.

What he has noticed is just how fierce a competitor Crosby is. Muse said he battles and battles to find a way to get momentum on their side.

“He’s going to find a way to come up with a big play,” Muse said. “You see it on the day-to-day, just the way he operates as the standard he sets not just for himself but for everybody here. When you see it every day, it's not a surprise.”

“People from afar have seen it for 21 years, it shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody that’s why he is who he is. He continues to do it 21 seasons in. It’s one of those things that nobody takes it for granted.”

“To be doing it as his age is incredible, honestly I don’t know if he gets enough credit for what he continues to do.”