Sidney Crosby shines in 4 nations opener

At the age of 37, Sidney Crosby is still the go-to player for Pittsburgh Penguins as well as Team Canada. Canada’s list is filled to the brim with talent in their physical prime. Players like Nathan Mackinnon and Connor McDavid collect all hardware in the NHL for the past few years as they build their individual accolades.

But when Push comes to Skyve for Penguins, Team Canada or any team of Crosby plays on, he gets up for the occasion. It was never clearer until Canada’s opening match at 4 Nations Face-off against Sweden. The Canadians fought hard against the Swedes and won over time with a score of 4-3. The best player in the game? The one who set game opening and game-winning goal? Yes, it was even Captain Canada, Sidney Crosby.

The first goal was pure magic from Crosby. The top Power Play device for Canada is a goalkeeper’s nightmare with Crosby along with both Mackinnon, McDavid, Sam Reinhart from Florida Panthers and Norris Trophy-winning defender Cale Makar. The options for the offense are endless out of these five players, but it was Crosby who started the scoring with a theater piece that only a superstar like him could pull off.

When he plays behind the web, Crosby first causes this spectacle to happen by passing the puck to McDavid playing on the right half wall. Crosby then bumps out in front of the Sweden goalkeeper and opens his manner for a return pass from McDavid coming right on his bond. When he looks at Sid’s positioning, he looks down and out without other options other than filling the puck on the web. But Crosby has eyes at the back of his head and throws a perfect back-back-back pass for Mackinnon for a one-hour and a 1-0 benefit for Canada.

Crosby would again show the world why he is the smartest hockey player maybe ever when Canada scored the game winner. In possession of the puck, Crosby moved up in ice with speed, but careful not to over-accelerate as he scanned the ice after his teammates. When he was aware that there was little support on the wings and recognized a striping Mitch Marner behind him, Crosby fell a pass behind him by force, giving him enough time to get on pages when Marner collected the drop pass. It was also just enough time to back up the Swedish defense and give Marner plenty of room to fire a shot. The play worked, the puck went in, and Canada earned a 4-3 over time victory.

Crosby ended the game as Canada’s leading goal scorer. His three assists pace the team and he was awarded the first star of the game.

Crosby also expanded its perfect record in International Play for Canada. They entered the game 21-0 with Crosby on the guard schedule and are now 22-0 through the first game of 4 Nations. They will take on the US in their next match of the tournament.

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