My personal favorite so far:

“His schedule was full,” Crosby’s agent Pat Brisson, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Monday night. “I talk to the league on a regular basis, and the league couldn’t be more thrilled having Sidney Crosby do all the stuff he does,” Brisson said.

This is really being made into a bigger deal than it has to be. I was still holding out hope he’d say it was because Sid was on Team Coco.

Full article below:

Sidney Crosby didn’t have to come up with the top 10 reasons he couldn’t accept an invitation to appear on the “Late Show with David Letterman” last week. It took only one.

“His schedule was full,” Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson, said Monday night.

The New York Post this week reported that NHL officials were “miffed” at the missed opportunity to have Crosby — considered the face of the league — make such an appearance on the heels of his winning goal for Canada in the Olympic gold-medal game.

“I talk to the league on a regular basis, and the league couldn’t be more thrilled having Sidney Crosby do all the stuff he does,” Brisson said.

Crosby was invited to present the Top Ten List on Letterman’s show when the Penguins were in New York last week to play the Rangers.

Crosby did not practice Monday and did not speak with reporters.

This was the second time this season Crosby turned down Letterman. In the fall, he was asked to appear the same night that the Penguins received their Stanley Cup rings. The New York Post reported that Crosby did not accept a request to appear on NBC’s “Today” show after the Cup win, but Brisson and a Penguins spokesperson said they didn’t know about that request.

NHL spokesman Frank Brown said the league is thrilled with Crosby’s promotional efforts. ” … Sidney has been exceptional in giving his time,” Brown said.

Meanwhile, Brisson said Hockey Canada told him the stick and gloves Crosby used to score the winning goal Feb. 28 in the Olympics might have inadvertently been put with gear that is on its way to a warehouse in Toronto. He hopes to find out as soon as today.

Reebok Canada has offered a $10,000 reward for the return of the items, and Crosby has said he would like to have them back.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10068/1041248-61.stm?cmpid=penguins.xml#ixzz0hhNBahpH

PHOTOS

The Penguins took four penalties in the first 25 minutes of the game and, as a result, couldn’t get into a good rhythm in five-on-five action. Luckily, Pittsburgh’s penalty killers were able to hold Boston to only one power-play goal.

After that man-advantage score gave Boston an early 1-0 lead, the Penguins took over. Pittsburgh carried the play, outshooting Boston 33-22, and never appeared in danger of losing control of the game.

The Penguins finally broke through for two goals and then grinded out a 2-1 victory. While the Bruins threw 11 shots at the Pittsburgh net in the third period, they couldn’t mount any sustained pressure, and the Penguins skated to victory.

The Penguins are 4-0 since the Olympic break and have opened up a five-point lead in the Atlantic Division race over New Jersey – which plays later tonight. On the horizon for Pittsburgh is a five-game road trip through Carolina, New Jersey, Tampa Bay, New Jersey (again) and a rematch with the Bruins in Boston. WHAT HAPPENED
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Evgeni Malkin scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period after former linemate Pascal Dupuis tied it, and the Pittsburgh Penguins remained unbeaten since the Olympic break by beating the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Sunday. SHOT OF THE NIGHT
Evgeni Malkin celebrates after scoring his seventh game-winning goal of the season – ranking second in the NHL.
(photo by Getty)
ESSENTIALS What Went Well: Limiting Second Chances
Despite being shorthanded three times in the first period, Pittsburgh held Boston to only three shots. In the game, Marc-Andre Fleury faced only 22 shots and wasn’t forced to make any spectacular saves. That’s because the Penguins did a great job of clearing the crease area and eliminating any second opportunities for Boston.

What Could Have Gone Better: Penalties
The Penguins hurt their own cause by taking four penalties in the game, all of which occurred in the first 25 minutes of action. Though Boston netted the game’s first goal with a man-advantage score, the Penguins did an excellent job avoiding any further setbacks.  Pittsburgh’s penalty killing units have been dominant lately, and they shined again against Boston.

Pascal Dupuis has been playing extremely well lately and he continued his strong play against Boston. Thanks to a tenacious effort, Dupuis was able to score the Penguins’ first goal, tying the game in the middle of the second period.

Dupuis finished the game with five shots, three hits, a plus-1 rating and 15:27 minutes of ice time. SCORING SYNOPSIS
The Bruins struck first with a power-play goal three minutes into the second period. Marc-Andre Fleury made a great sprawling save on Marco Sturm on the doorstep. Fleury appeared to have the puck covered under his arm. Blake Wheeler gave gave Fleury a shot with his stick and the puck squirted free and over the goal line. Boston 1, Pittsburgh 0.

The Penguins pulled even at the nine-minute mark of the second frame. Pascal Dupuis tried a wraparound shot but Tim Thomas got his left pad against the post. Dupuis took a few more whacks and his persistence paid off when the puck somehow sneaked into the goal. Pittsburgh 1, Boston 1.

The Penguins gained their first lead of the game 1:27 into the third period. Evgeni Malkin carried the puck down the near side as Alexei Ponikarovsky drove to the net. Malkin snapped a shot through Ponikarovsky’s screen and through Thomas for the tally. Pittsburgh 2, Boston 1. INTRIGUING NOTABLES
The Penguins had two scares in the game with possible injuries to their players. First Alexei Ponikarovsky left in the first period after taking a shot off his wrist. He returned at the first break of the second period. Then Jordan Staal was hobbled after blocking a shot on a penalty kill. After a few minutes on the bench, Staal was back on the ice.

Boston’s Marc Savard was not as fortunate. After suffering a collision with Matt Cooke in the Penguins zone, Savard fell to the ice motionless. He had to be carted off the ice on a stretcher. The Bruins released a statement claiming that Savard “suffered a concussion from the hit.” Savard was “not transported to a hospital, but will remain at the team hotel in Pittsburgh with a member of the Bruins’ medical staff tonight as a precaution.”

Bill Guerin missed his third straight game with a back injury. The Penguin also scratched defenseman Jay McKee.

For the second season, the Penguins hosted a children’s book collection to benefit the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Fans brought children’s books to Mellon Arena and also made cash donations. A total of 1,383 books and $1,000 were collected. GAME NOTES > Pittsburgh improved to 40-22-4 on the season with a 21-10-3 mark at Mellon Arena. The Penguins are five points ahead of New Jersey for the Atlantic Division lead, though New Jersey plays in Edmonton later Sunday night.

> Scoring Summary:
BOS, B.Wheeler PP (14), 3:12 2nd period: Bruins 1, Penguins 0
PIT, P.Dupuis (16), 8:57 2nd period: Penguins 1, Bruins 1
PIT, E.Malkin (23), 1:27 3rd period: Penguins 2, Bruins 1

> The Penguins are now 58-25-8 in the regular season since head coach Dan Bylsma took over. They have a record of 31-11-4 at Mellon Arena.

> Either Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby have figured in on 40 of the last 47 goals for Pittsburgh.

> Sidney Crosby posted an assist, and has 20 goals and 35 points over his last 22 games. He has points in 14 of his last 16 contests, including six straight, for a total of 27 (14G-13A) over that span. Crosby has 14 goals in his last 16 games.

> Evgeni Malkin scored his seventh game-winning goal of the season, tied for second most in the NHL. He has points in 15 of his last 16 games for 25 total (10G-15A).

> Pascal Dupuis scored a goal for Pittsburgh. He has three goals in his last four games. THREE STARS QUOTE OF THE NIGHT 1. P.Dupuis
2. T.Thomas
3. E.Malkin “Our team stuck with it and we won the game in the third (period). I liked the result.”

- Dan Bylsma ]]> http://sidneycrosbyhockey.info/2010/03/aftermath-penguins-2-bruins-1/feed/ 0 http://sidneycrosbyhockey.info/2010/03/penguins-notebook-calming-voice/ http://sidneycrosbyhockey.info/2010/03/penguins-notebook-calming-voice/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:21:47 +0000 DJ http://sidneycrosbyhockey.info/?p=4627 Sometimes, a situation calls for a player to overlook who is wearing what color of jersey. Crosby made an effort to settle down friend, part-time Olympics linemate and Boston center Patrice Bergeron while Bruins center Marc Savard was taken off on a stretcher in the third period after a hit by the Penguins’ Matt Cooke.

“It’s a terrible situation when you’ve got a guy hurt like that,” Crosby said. “They’re upset seeing a teammate and a friend lying there. For the odd time probably, I’m just trying to make things a little bit calmer over there.”

“I appreciate them wanting to help me,” Crosby said Sunday after he had an assist in a 2-1 win against Boston at Mellon Arena.

The missing items are the stick and gloves he used when he scored the winning goal in overtime Feb. 28 to give Canada a 3-2 win against the United States in the gold-medal game in Vancouver. He tossed them during the immediate celebration, and they were nowhere to be found when equipment was sorted a little later.

There are reports that one glove was recovered, but Crosby knows nothing about that. He got his mouth guard back and is using it in Penguins games.

Officials at Reebok, which has an endorsement deal with Crosby and supplies his hockey gear, said there will be no questions asked and the items will be returned to the Penguins center, although footage from that evening at Canada Hockey Place apparently is being used to help identify whoever might have had the equipment.

While he is not bent on someone being punished for taking the gear, Crosby is eager to find it.

“They’re things that have meaning,” he said. “If somebody knows where it is, I’d definitely like to have it.”

He hasn’t decided what he will do with the items if they turn up. He has heard reports that the Hockey Hall of Fame would like them and said he might accommodate it with one or all of the missing pieces.

Crosby is incredibly fussy about his equipment, which is highly personalized by the time he uses it in games, so he doubts anyone could successfully replicate the items for the reward.

“If somebody can copy those, good luck,” he said.

Crosby had his jersey from the 2005 world junior tournament — where Canada won gold in Grand Forks, N.D. — stolen from his luggage. It later was returned.

“I don’t know if they realize the kind of attention it gets,” Crosby said of such stolen goods.

He guesses that if the idea is to sell the gear, “it would be done very privately, very discreetly.”

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10067/1041082-61.stm?cmpid=penguins.xml#ixzz0hbBXu8RX

Currently, shoulder to head hits are not banned by the NHL. However, league general managers voted in December to investigate the problem before they meet again this week. They are considering rules that would prohibit contact to the head, even with a shoulder.

“At some point there’s got to be a clear indication from the league because we’ve seen this so many times now,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. “You don’t like to see anyone, their own teammate or an opposing player, lay on the ice like that. That was scary.”

Evgeni Malkin scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period after former linemate Pascal Dupuis tied it, and the Pittsburgh Penguins remained unbeaten since the Olympic break by beating the Bruins 2-1 on Sunday.

Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 21 shots by the NHL’s lowest-scoring team to help the Penguins end Boston’s five-game road winning streak. Boston, which had won six of seven, is 1-1 during a season-long seven-game road trip.

The Bruins played the final 5:37 without centre Marc Savard, who received a concussion while being levelled by a blindside hit by Matt Cooke. Savard released a shot from above the circles only to be struck in the head from behind by Cooke’s raised left arm and shoulder. Cooke was not penalized.

Savard was unconscious briefly, but was moving his arms and legs before being carried off the ice. He returned to the team hotel, along with a member of the Bruins’ medical staff, but was hopeful of rejoining the team as early as Monday.

“It’s pretty obvious that was definitely a dirty hit,” said Bruins coach Claude Julien, who said Cooke should be suspended. “That’s probably the classic blind-side hit to the head.”

NHL general managers are considering a rule change for next season that would ban such hits, but the Bruins still believe Cooke’s hit crossed the line. Cooke defended himself by saying he was only finishing his check.

“At some point, there’s got to be a clear indication from the league (what’s legal and what’s not) because we’ve seen this so many times now,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. “You don’t like to see anyone, your own teammate or an opposing player, lay on the ice like that.”

Since Crosby scored the winning goal for Canada against the United States in the Olympic gold-medal game a week ago Sunday, the Penguins are 4-0 – rallying in their last three. They trailed 1-0 after Blake Wheeler scored on a power play early in the second period.

Crosby has two goals and four assists while getting at least a point in all four victories. For now, Crosby – the NHL’s leading goal-scorer – isn’t showing any signs of Olympic fatigue despite playing five games in eight days and eight in 13 days.

Neither are the Penguins, who have surged to the top of the Atlantic Division standings following a pre-Olympic slump in which they dropped four of five before the break began Feb. 15.

Pittsburgh took the game’s first four penalties, and got a scare when the newly acquired Alexei Ponikarovsky and Jordan Staal each hobbled off the ice only to return early in the second period, yet had enough offence to win.

Dupuis, dropped off Malkin’s line when the Penguins acquired Ponikarovsky from the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, scored his third goal in four games to tie it at 8:57 of the second. Dupuis took Crosby’s giveback pass along the goal-line and was twice denied by goalie Tim Thomas before finally shoving the puck – and the goalie – into the net.

“I just tried to jam it in there,” said Dupuis, who has rotated among lines since leaving Malkin’s. “He had his pad on it and I just pushed his pad a little bit behind the goal line and took a couple of whacks on it. I saw Rupper (Mike Rupp) on the other side pushing the other leg, so I knew the goalie was going to go into the net.”

To Thomas, there’s nothing a goalie can do to prevent a goal when he and the puck are being shoved into the net simultaneously.

“It’s frustrating as a goalie because, to be realistic, they let that go every time and it’s impossible to hold your leg against the post,” Thomas said. “A guy’s pushing you into the net; it’s ice, you slide, there’s no way to hold yourself.”

NOTES: Pittsburgh is 10-1-1 when tied after two periods; Boston is 10-3-6. … Despite not getting a goal, Crosby has 14 goals in 16 games. … The Penguins gained at least a point for the eighth consecutive game. … The Penguins are 6-0-2 in their last eight home games. … Both teams play their next five games on the road.