Crosby carrying Pens in critical juncture

Sidney Crosby sat at his locker stall. All around him were the moving hordes of media, team staff and other bodies in motion. But they were all just white noise, as Crosby's stare was focused on the ground.

Minutes earlier, the Penguins had suffered an overtime loss to Philadelphia after blowing a two-goal lead with three minutes remaining in regulation in the Stadium Series at Lincoln Financial Field on Feb. 23.
Before the puck dropped in that cross-state showdown, Columbus defeated San Jose, 4-0, and Carolina won against Dallas, 3-0. Those combined victories allowed both teams to leap the Penguins in the standings, pushing Pittsburgh out of a playoff position and into ninth place in the conference.
The Penguins remained on the outside looking in after that overtime loss to their hated rival. As the Penguins' captain was staring at the ground, this was the reality of the Penguins' situation … in late February … with 20 games remaining in the season.
It's impossible to guess what was going through Crosby's mind during that moment. But there's no doubt that he understand the magnitude of the situation.
"He's very in-tune with what's going on in the room, more so than anybody I've ever played with," said Matt Cullen, who has played with hundreds of teammates over 21 years in the NHL.
"He has a unique ability to sense when the team needs a spark," Cullen continued. "He has such a feel for what this team needs. He seems to sense when the time is right for him to put the team on his back. And he does. And he has that ability."
Since that loss to the Flyers, the Pens have gone 3-0-1 and climbed back into a playoff position. They've earned seven of a possible eight points, but more importantly they won two big road contests against teams that are in direct competition for a playoff spot (at Columbus, 5-2; at Montreal, 5-1).
And the common denominator to the club's recent run is the captain.
Crosby has posted a five-game scoring streak for 13 total points (5G-7A). In that critical game in Montreal on Saturday, Crosby scored a goal and posted three assists. In Pittsburgh's 3-2 overtime win against Florida on Tuesday, Crosby figured in on all three of his team's goals - scoring one himself and setting up the other two, which includes the overtime winner.
To underscore how indispensible Crosby is to his team right now, he's been on the ice for the last 10 straight goals for Pittsburgh, and 11 of the past 12.
"That's just unreal," Cullen said when alerted of the statistic. "You can see another level to the way he's playing. Last night was a great example of the way that he made so many things happen."
Crosby has done this before. The Penguins found themselves struggling heading into December of the 2015-16 season. From Dec. 12 (the promotion of Mike Sullivan) to the end of the season, Crosby was the league's highest point producer with 66 (30G-36A). That season ended with Pittsburgh raising the Stanley Cup.
The Penguins find themselves in a more desperate position this time around as February turns to March. But once again, Crosby is raising his game to lift the team.
"He understands the position we're in," Sullivan said. "He understands the stakes are high at this time of year and he's doing everything he can to help us win."
Defenseman Kris Letang has seen Crosby raise his game many times over the course of his decade-plus career. And he sees the same fire in the captain's eye this time.
"He can take a team on his shoulders and carry it," Letang said. "Right now he's playing some of his best hockey of the year."
But it isn't just on the ice. Crosby sets the tone from the moment he arrives at the rink.
"You really see it in his demeanor, how he comes to the rink and prepares himself," Letang said. "He's in a zone right now and playing really well for us. He makes us able to grab big points right now.
"All the guys on this team are fortunate to have a leader like this."