The best player in the world is having difficulty doing the thing he’s best at: putting pucks in the net.
Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby has not managed to score a goal in his last 11 games.
But the 13-year NHL veteran is drawing from his wealth of experience and is confident that as long as he’s getting scoring chances the tides will turn.
“I think, in general, you just don’t like going through that,” Crosby said to Wes Crosby of NHL.com. “I think the biggest thing, though, is when you’re not getting [chances]. If you’re not getting the chances then you’ve got to reevaluate your game and find ways to get them.
“I think as long as they’re there, it’s obviously not fun when you’re not scoring, but when they’re there, you’re trusting the process a little more.”
Crosby, who won the Maurice Richard Trophy with 44 goals last season, has only managed five goals through 19 games this year. He’s also managed just three assists during his 11-game slump, is a combined minus-nine and has only once had a plus/minus in the positive (+1 on Oct. 26 vs. the Winnipeg Jets).
If it’s starting to get to the Penguins captain, head coach Mike Sullivan can’t tell.
“I’ve had a number of discussions with him, just about his overall game and our team game,” Sullivan said. “I think, quite honestly, the discussion never focuses on scoring goals. It’s just about playing the game the right way.”
“We believe, as a coaching staff, that when Sid does that, that it’s a matter of time until he scores.”
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