Penguins' Sidney Crosby Would Take Playoffs Over 82 Games With Malkin
The Pittsburgh Penguins have gotten full seasons from their biggest stars, yet the playoffs might be out of the picture.
PITTSBURGH - The 2022-23 season has been a wild ride for the Pittsburgh Penguins, but there has been one consistent that might have gone unnoticed.
With one game remaining on the Penguins’ schedule, both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are yet to miss a single game.
If those two take the ice against the Columbus Blue Jackets, it’ll be the first time they’ve ever played in all 82 games in the same season.
The injury history of both Crosby and Malkin has made it so that in 35 combined seasons in the NHL, they’ve only played a full season three time.
Crosby played all 82 games in 2017-18 and Malkin did it in back-to-back seasons in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Every other year, including lockout and COVID-shortened seasons, has seen one of the two miss time either for injury, illness, or resting for the postseason.
“It’s nice,” Crosby said on the accomplishment. “It’s not always an easy thing… It’s not easy to stay healthy. It’s a competitive season.”
The achievement isn’t yet guaranteed, however; as the Penguins are on the outside looking in, it’s possible their final game of the year has no meaning.
Mike Sullivan stated that the outcome of the contest between the New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens might have an impact on his lineup decisions.
“We’re hopeful that we’re going to play a meaningful game,” Sullivan said. “And we’re game planning for that.”
While it’s entirely possible the game has no meaning, Sullivan recognizes that this is no small feat by Crosby and Malkin.
“They put themselves in harms way all the time,” Sullivan said. “I think their fitness level… has a lot to do with their durability.”
Over the course of his career, Crosby has always been focused on winning hockey games; it doesn’t matter how it happens or who produces, Crosby wants to win.
Given the position the Penguins are in, Crosby is proud of the season he and Malkin are having, but wishes there was more to play for.
“I’d take 81 and a playoff spot.”
In the grand scheme of their respective Hall of Fame careers, this kind of feat doesn’t mean much to Crosby or Malkin.
Maybe it would be met with more pomp and circumstance had they been more on the road to the postseason, but it’s a true testament that they’ve been able to remain healthy and at the top of their game.
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