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Sidney Crosby Dragging Penguins Back Into Playoff Race
Sidney Crosby Dragging Penguins Back Into Playoff Race

Penguins' Sidney Crosby on Career-Defining Stretch

With the season on the line, the Pittsburgh Penguins are seeing an explosion from Sidney Crosby.
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PITTSBURGH – Just when it seemed like the Pittsburgh Penguins were down and out for the 2023-24 season, their most important player turned back the clock in a big way. The Penguins went from checking on draft lottery percentages to sniffing a playoff spot in a matter of two weeks, thanks in huge part to a resurgence from Sidney Crosby.

Around the trade deadline, something seemed significantly off with Crosby; he had no goals and just four assists in a 10-game span and was a minus-13 rating. Losing Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes seemed to have left a negative impact on Crosby that may have sunk the Penguins’ season, but the switch has been flipped.

Since breaking his goal drought, Crosby has averaged two points per game with 18 points in nine games. His recent performances have been even more astonishing, as Crosby has had multi-point efforts in five of his last six games.

The Penguins have gained standings points in those six games, with Crosby leading the way with six goals and nine assists for 15 points. The last time Crosby was on a pace like this was 11 years ago, in 2013.

Between February 24 and March 10 of the 2012-13 season, Crosby put up five goals and 15 assists for 20 points in eight games.

If Crosby can keep up with his current pace, he will finish the season with 43 goals and 49 assists for 92 points. That's one point below last season's total and the third-highest goal total of his career.

At the age of 36, and with the Penguins counted out almost all season, Crosby is giving his team a real chance. The recent numbers and achievements show that Crosby is still in the discussion as one of the best players in the NHL right now.

It might be late in the season, but Crosby is doing all he can to keep the Penguins in the postseason hunt. With just seven games remaining, their odds are still long, but Crosby won’t let them go down without a fight.

The trade deadline has passed, and Crosby is finding new ways to carry the Penguins back to the postseason.

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