HockeyWhat's behind Crosby's scorching pace, plus 30 thoughts

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Sidney Crosby has 26 points over his last 13 games to lead the league in scoring. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

In September, Hockey Night in Canada taped an interview with Sidney Crosby. In preparing for that piece, one source said, "Ask him if he feels last year was his best NHL season." He said yes, he thought it was.

After it aired, another source called and said, "You blew it. You missed the big question."

According to this person, Crosby was terribly disappointed at not winning the Hart or the Lindsay (which may have bothered him even more because Alexander Ovechkin won it and it's voted by the players). Crosby scored 51 goals, tied for the league lead with Steven Stamkos, and finished tied for second with 109 points. That was three behind Henrik Sedin, who won the Hart. (Full disclosure: I don't have a vote, but if I did, it would have been for Sedin.)

Crosby will never admit it, but he took great pride in putting up those numbers despite being surrounded by less firepower than Sedin, Ovechkin or Stamkos in last season's high-scoring pantheon. Ovechkin's linemate, Nicklas Backstrom, was fourth in scoring. Stamkos was fifth, one point ahead of buddy Martin St. Louis. Daniel Sedin was tied for 11th despite missing 19 games.

After Crosby, the next-highest Penguin was Evgeni Malkin in 19th. Bill Guerin was 128th, Pascal Dupuis 173rd and Chris Kunitz 234th. (Kunitz missed 32 games.) Add that to the second-round playoff defeat, and you have one annoyed Penguin.

That miffed mallard now has 26 points in his last 13 games to lead the NHL. He's tied with Alexander Semin's 18 goals, second behind Stamkos's 21. He wants the Stanley Cup badly, but I think he really wants these other trophies, too.

30 THOUGHTS

1. Crosby got into some controversy Monday night with a slew-foot on the Rangers' Ryan Callahan. Have no idea how Callahan got a penalty on the play, but was not surprised to hear MSG asked for Brandon Dubinsky as a between-period interview guest. Dubinsky's made it very clear he can't stand Crosby, and no matter which side you're on, the honesty is refreshing.

2. Last week, we learned a lot about Henrik Sedin's captaincy. Think the Canucks were very curious to see how he'd handle his first "crisis" after meltdowns against Chicago and Phoenix. Their wins over Colorado and San Jose were due in no small part to his leadership on and off the ice.

3. Is it really worth getting upset at who is/isn't on the All-Star ballot or who is leading the voting? Truth is, most of the guys you're arguing about would rather be in Cancun than Carolina.

4. During the 2009-10 regular season, Tomas Plekanec spent roughly the same amount of time on the power play as Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta or Scott Gomez. In the playoffs, he was close to a minute less per game than they were. The reason? Jacques Martin wanted to use him at even strength against the opposition's best line. Plekanec's point totals suffered, but he did it without complaint. That was a huge reason the Canadiens committed so much money to him.

5. Did not realize Plekanec's reputation as a stick man. One opponent: "Ask him why I'm always carved up after playing him."

6. Interesting: a few GMs are expecting to see Marco Sturm on waivers pretty soon.

7. If I was George McPhee, I'd take my chances with Alexander Semin and not extend him before the playoffs. If Semin really wants to stay, he'll find a way - after proving he can deliver when it matters.

8. Brad Richards made it very clear: If he hits free agency (and he probably will), his choice is a team with solid ownership. After Tampa Bay and Dallas, you can't blame him for that.

9. A few years ago, Jaromir Jagr really wanted Martin Rucinsky in New York. The Blues asked for Brandon Dubinsky in return, and the Rangers said no. It was time to hold on to their best young players, and to their credit, they've done that. Barring a change in strategy, if Richards goes to NYC, I think it'll be by free agency, and not a trade - unless they can sign him first.

10. There was some surprise that Todd McLellan chose a struggling Antti Niemi to face Chicago last week, but it was a no-brainer. A coach can really lose a player - and his teammates - by not giving him that chance against a former team or in their home city. You could tell the Sharks knew how much that game meant to Niemi.

11. A few Leaf fans came to Francois Beauchemin's defence when I labelled him a disappointment in yesterday's blog. Curious to see if San Jose will take a look at him. The Sharks need a defenceman, and a return to the West Coast might be a good fit. The Red Wings raved about him after the 2009 playoff series.

12. Another possible fit in San Jose? James Wisniewski. Really liked him in Anaheim, now caught in the Islander quagmire.

13. "Fasten your seat belt, we're going all the way this year!" might be the quote of the season, courtesy Senators owner Eugene Melnyk during Saturday's pre-game. Little did he know he'd need a barf bag, too, for Monday night's home hairball against Edmonton.

14. Despite his vote of confidence for both Bryan Murray and Cory Clouston, it's telling that Melnyk won't discuss extensions of their expiring contracts until after the season. Big year for both men.

15. What I learned last weekend in Ottawa: Really didn't understand how much the Richardson family tragedy affected everyone. Not only is Luke the buffer between the players and the extremely intense Clouston, but half the roster used to play with him. And, Stephanie (Luke's wife) is a real leader among the players' wives. As one Senator said, "It was almost two weeks before anyone could crack a joke."

16. Purely my speculation: but Daniel Alfredsson looks much more injured than he's letting on.

17. Pleasant surprise to see Gordie Howe in Ottawa. He was there for a hearing care company called Helix, which recently fitted him with the latest in hearing-aid technology. The best thing about it is the respect people still have for him. Huge ovation when introduced at Scotiabank Place, mobbed in the hotel lobby. Very nice to see.

18. The Red Wing-lovers at Kuklas Korner get positively orgasmic when I write stuff like this, so consider it an early Christmas present: From a GM, "Detroit is the best team we've played this year. It's not even close. Their puck control is incredible...You have to hope your goalie has a great night to give you a chance."

19. Craig Simpson talks a lot about the great scorers always being in position to shoot. Here's Dany Heatley with a perfect example. (Watch his 2-1 goal from Saturday night). Don't think Ottawa fans will be too impressed on Thursday, though.

20. The Calgary Flames really wanted Adam Burish, but Joe Nieuwendyk's lure was too strong. It's too bad for the Flames, because Burish is the kind of guy all Canadian teams need. He'll do all interviews and take the media heat off your star players. 

21. Nieuwendyk said one of the reasons he pursued Burish: The Stars' dressing room was too quiet.

22. Former teammates of Kari Lehtonen's can't believe how skinny he is. It took him seven seasons, but he finally realized the importance of conditioning.

23. After the lockout, Stephane Robidas begged for an NHL job. He decided he'd take any North American chance over a European guarantee. Dallas was the only team to offer him a job, and, as a right-handed shot, he was behind both Sergei Zubov and Philippe Boucher.  Two years later, both were injured and Robidas took advantage of the opportunity.

24. Last year, Sheldon Souray. This year, Chris Stewart. Tuesday night was supposed to be the first NHL meeting of the brothers Stewart: Chris (Colorado) and Anthony (Atlanta). That won't happen because of Chris's broken hand, suffered in a fight with Kyle Brodziak. Stewart should learn from Jarome Iginla, who always gets the other fighter to remove his helmet.

25. Chris Pronger showed up at RAW on Monday night. Surprised he didn't jump into the ring and wave his hands in Jerry Lawler's face. (How old is Lawler anyway? 300?) Look, this is about common sense. You can't have players doing what Pronger tried with Miikka Kiprusoff, even if he wasn't facing the guy. If Jarome Iginla did that to Sergei Bobrovsky, Pronger would be screaming bloody murder.

26. Ghislain Hebert, who is not a full-time NHL referee, showed huge stones making that call. In overtime, in Philadelphia? Not for the weak.

27. Classy move of the Penguins, to recognize Daniel Alfredsson and Alexei Kovalev's 1,000th points last Friday.

28. Nazem Kadri pulled a Bo Jackson on Saturday night. You never show your frustration to opponents. To his credit, he admitted regretting it.

29. Patrick O'Sullivan is back with Minnesota, which drafted him 56th overall in 2003. Toronto had the 57th selection, and had actually written O'Sullivan's name down on their draft card. When the Wild foiled that plan, they chose John Doherty instead.

30. Don't care what's ailing Rick Rypien. Only care that he gets help and gets better. Do think one of the reasons the suspension was just six games is Gary Bettman and Bill Daly realized there was an issue and showed compassion.

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