Penguins' Crosby willing to accept puppy challenge

Sidney Crosby is ready for the puppy challenge.

The Pittsburgh Penguins captain said Tuesday he will do his best to get a young fan a dog by scoring a goal, if he's asked to do so.

"Sure. There's a few of those going around. I've seen that, actually," said Crosby, referring to signs in Ottawa and Columbus the past two days from fans asking players to score a goal in order to get them a puppy.

On Sunday, Senators fan Cole Jensen brought a sign to their game against the New York Rangers saying, "Bobby, Dad said if you score a goal, we get a puppy."

Right wing Bobby Ryan delivered.

On Monday, a fan of the Columbus Blue Jackets made a similar request to forward Cam Atkinson. Atkinson scored three goals.

Crosby, who has 16 goals this season, and the Penguins play the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday at Consol Energy Center (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, ROOT).

"Hopefully there's a lot of kids getting puppies there," Crosby said.

In Ottawa, where the whole thing started, Ryan's teammates said they were surprised at the attention the signs are generating. But unlike Crosby, Senators forward Curtis Lazar is hoping the responsibility of a young fan getting a puppy does not fall on him.

"I'm just hoping no one has sign for me because I have a feeling the streak might end. I'll be the goat," Lazar said.