Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe, right, meets Sidney Crosby to drop the ceremonial first puck before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals May 30. Howe defended Crosby against accusations that the Penguins' captain intentionally failed to shake hands with some Detroit players after Pittsburgh won the title.

TORONTO — Mr. Hockey says people should cut Sid The Kid some slack.

Hockey legend Gordie Howe doesn't believe Penguins captain Sidney Crosby intentionally failed to shake hands with some Detroit players after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final.

Howe said Crosby's natural shyness combined with getting caught up in the emotion of winning an NHL championship resulted in Crosby getting in line to shake hands after some Red Wings had left the ice.

"He got caught up," Howe said Thursday after serving as the Queen's Plate honorary drawmaster at Woodbine Racetrack. "He will mature.

"He's a good kid."

During a chaotic postgame scene on the crowded Joe Louis Arena ice following Pittsburgh's 2-1 victory, Crosby was ushered to several live television interviews, hugged some teammates and was presented the Stanley Cup by commissioner Gary Bettman.

Crosby was celebrating when Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom, assistant Kris Draper and some other key Red Wings went to their dressing room. Crosby did get into line to shake hands with Detroit players, including head coach Mike Babcock and goalie Chris Osgood.

Draper later ripped Crosby, accusing him of snubbing Lidstrom during postgame handshakes.

But Howe, 81, defended Crosby, saying the Penguins superstar is really very shy. In fact, during a recent visit with Crosby, Howe added the Pittsburgh captain didn't say a word.

"He's too damn shy," Howe said. "He never said a word, never blinked.

"During the five minutes I talked to him I basically said, 'Don't let anything bother you, just keep on the right road. You're on the right road and you're doing a hell of a lot of good jobs and good luck.' He just stared at me, turned around and walked away."

And that brought a smile to Howe's face.

"I just grinned and said, 'That takes me back to the days where I used to hide,"' Howe said. "That's because I was afraid I might say something wrong.

"I was the same way. I'd go into the washroom and take about a half-hour shower and they (reporters) would get sick of waiting and leave. I was afraid of saying something wrong and I think he's in that same situation. He doesn't know what to say, what is right and what is wrong?"'

Howe also remembers superstar Wayne Gretzky initially being very shy.

"The first time I met Wayne Gretzky ... he never said anything back," Howe said. "The second time, we couldn't shut him up.

"It's just kids. We all have to learn."