Penguins' Superstar Back in MVP Race
The Pittsburgh Penguins are back in the playoff hunt thanks to MVP-caliber work from Sidney Crosby.
PITTSBURGH – Just a few weeks ago, fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins were glancing at the NHL’s Draft Lottery odds to see if there was a chance their team could land the first overall pick. With seven games remaining in the season, the Penguins have made some noise and are suddenly three points out of a playoff spot.
Why the sudden change? Partially thanks to a surge from Alex Nedeljkovic in goal, but the Penguins can mostly thank the torrid pace of Sidney Crosby. With 15 points in the last six games, Crosby has turned back the clock and is doing everything he can to carry the Penguins to the postseason.
Crosby is on pace to finish with 43 goals and 92 points on the season. Those numbers don’t come close to the NHL’s leaders, but if the Penguins find a way into the postseason, Crosby will be more than deserving of a look for the Hart Trophy as league MVP.
Pundits and analysts considered Crosby a possible candidate in the season's early stages, but a tough stretch for him, and the Penguins quickly removed him from those talks.
That was a fair decision; the Penguins were among the teams counting lottery numbers and looking forward to the upcoming draft. Crosby had no goals in 11 games with just six assists and was a minus-14.
The trade deadline and losing Jake Guentzel may have contributed to that dip, but Crosby has more than rebounded down the stretch. With 20 points in his last 11 games, including 15 in the last six, Crosby has put his name right back in the MVP discussion.
According to TSN's Craig Button on The Smokehouse, this is exactly what MVPs do. They work through anything to carry their team, no matter where they are in the standings.
"When you think about what Sidney Crosby could potentially do," Button said. "Dragging the Pittsburgh Penguins into the playoffs. That, to me, is what an MVP does."
The Penguins have recorded standings points in their last six games, with Crosby’s production doing much of the heavy lifting. If Crosby can keep up this monstrous pace and singlehandedly carry the Penguins to the postseason, he will be more than deserving of a look for MVP.
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