Crosby scored his NHL-leading 21st goal in just 23 games on an incredible display of hand-eye coordination in the Pens' 7-0 win over Arizona on Monday at PPG Paints Arena. It's not the first time we've seen him score a goal like this, but it never gets less impressive.
During a second-period power play, a shot from Evgeni Malkin deflected off goalie Louis Domingue's stick, off the post and popped high into the air. Crosby had the presence of mind to realize that if he tried whacking at it then, he'd be called for a high stick.
"I think you just hope you have enough time to wait for it to go below the crossbar and have a play at it," he told me. "Sometimes you put it where you want to. With the goalie, I think he was kind of looking for it up in the air, so I got lucky I got some space there."
So Crosby patiently waited for the puck to fall low enough for him to legally take a swing at it. His timing was perfect, as he made contact - even with Coyotes defenseman Michael Stone waving his stick at the puck as well - and homered it into the open net to give the Pens a 5-0 lead.
While Crosby did admit that time definitely slowed down on that sequence, but fortunately he was able to convert it.
"Sometimes it feels like it takes forever, but in that situation you have to wait," he said. "It's not worth rushing it and having the goal called off. You just have to wait for it and fortunately I had room for it."
The goal came after Crosby had an injury scare for a second straight game. With three seconds left in the first period, Coyotes forward Martin Hanzel swung his stick and caught Crosby right in the mouth. He returned shortly after the second period began and played the rest of the game.
Afterward, Crosby was sporting a swollen, stitched upper lip.
"I don't know where I got it," he laughingly joked.
The Pens have 35 goals over their six-game win streak this month, led by Crosby, who is on a season-high eight-game point streak (7G-6A-13P).
"We have some talented guys that can finish. Obviously Sid's been on a tear and is playing inspiring hockey," head coach Mike Sullivan said.
