Pittsburgh Review

Sidney Crosby's recent performances have sparked discussions among his teammates and coaches, following Pittsburgh's 3-1 victory over Montreal. Kris Letang humorously attributed Crosby's success to his Movember mustache, stating, "I'm just glad he's the mustache man again, I guess. That freaking mustache gets him going."

Crosby has been on a scoring streak since the start of Movember, netting two goals in a 2-1 overtime win against Anaheim and repeating the feat against Montreal. This marks only the seventh time in his career that he has achieved back-to-back multiple-goal games. Additionally, it's the third instance where Crosby has scored four consecutive team goals.

Going further back, Crosby has contributed to seven consecutive team goals dating back to October 29 against Minnesota. This achievement ties his personal record for most consecutive goals scored or assisted on during his career.

After a slow start to the season by his standards, Crosby now boasts 14 points (5 goals and 9 assists) in 13 games. Penguins Head Coach Mike Sullivan praised Crosby's determination, saying, "I think inevitably, he's always such a determined player."

Sullivan also noted that despite being one of hockey's greats, Crosby remains open to coaching and feedback. During a period when the Penguins were struggling with an 0-5-1 winless stretch, Sullivan and his staff worked closely with Crosby using video analysis to improve positioning and fundamentals.

Crosby acknowledged that playing alongside Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell has been beneficial. He stated, "We’re generating some looks, we have the puck, and I think that builds some confidence."

The Penguins have improved defensively after allowing at least three goals in their first 11 games. Sullivan emphasized defense as key to overcoming their slump. The team has since allowed only two goals across their last two victories.

Crosby credited goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic for making crucial saves during these wins. Nedeljkovic commented on the team's defensive efforts: "These last two games... they haven't really given up much in terms of me having to cover up some mistakes."

Blake Lizotte added another goal for Pittsburgh after returning from a concussion sustained during preseason play.

The Penguins will take Sunday off before starting a three-game road trip against the Islanders, Hurricanes, and Capitals.