Crosby leads all-around effort vs. Carolina
PITTSBURGH — The Carolina Hurricanes were one of the few NHL teams that was having success in slowing down Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby. They must have known that couldn't last.
Crosby scored twice and set up another goal to become the first NHL player with 60 points this season, and the Penguins relied on Crosby's playmaking and Marc-Andre Fleury's strong goaltending to beat Carolina 3-0 Tuesday night.
"I'd say this was one of the best games we've played this season," said Crosby, who emphasized the game was won in the defensive end. "It was complete. We didn't have any lapses. We were carrying the play and doing a good job."
Carolina outscored Pittsburgh 11-3 in winning the first two games of the four-game season series, but got nothing past Fleury in his second shutout of the season and fourth of his career. He made 31 saves.
"Coach (Michel Therrien) let us know before the game about that 11-3," Ryan Whitney said. "We had to come out strong and we did."
The Hurricanes were playing their first game in 2007, but already have as many losses as they did last January. Then, they went 13-1 to seize control of the Eastern Conference lead before going on to win the Stanley Cup.
Crosby was held to four points in his first six games against the Hurricanes, but that changed in a hurry.
Crosby gave the Penguins the lead by scoring on a break from the Pittsburgh end after Evgeni Malkin stole the puck about 5Z\x minutes into the game.
With Pittsburgh on a power play early in the third, Crosby made a no-look pass up ice to Mark Recchi, who found Whitney at the side of the net for Whitney's sixth goal. The puck deflected off Whitney and past goalie Cam Ward without hitting Whitney's stick.
Crosby scored again midway through the period, skating through three Hurricanes players with a succession of moves before attempting to pass to Recchi. The puck deflected back to Crosby, who put it in for his 19th goal and 61st point of the season.
Crosby, the NHL scoring leader, has 61 points in 38 games. Last year, he didn't get the 60th point of his 102-point rookie season until Feb. 4.
"When you play a team with the offense they have, you have to try to skate with them and not take penalties," Crosby said. "Our focus was on skating with them, and we did that."
