The Crosby Count

Well, Crosby didn't generate many points on the road trip into western Canada, but he led the Penguins to a sweep.

His 3-assist third period against the Oilers started the tour off nicely, and while he was kept off the score sheet in Calgary and Vancouver, the Penguins took both of those games in shootouts. Both shootouts, it should be noted, were won by Penguins defenceman Kris Letang.

The game against Vancouver - which I just finished watching - damn near ended up with a poetic, epic finish. With only a couple of minutes left in overtime, Sid got a jump on a loose puck and was tripped up by Miller while on a breakaway, which led to a penalty shot.

So we've suddenly got two franchise players - Crosby and Roberto Luongo - going head-to-head with the game on the line. Sid made a great move, but Luo did him one better, by keeping his eye on the puck and never letting up on the play. It was a great moment.

For the record, Luo stopped Sid a second time during the shootout.

Anyhow, I'm sure the Pens are counting this road trip a success.

Side note: Is it me or did Dany Sabourin play pretty good?

CROSBY COUNT
Games played: 29
Goals: 14
Assists: 26
Total points: 40


LUNCH: Eggs, toast, and breakfast sausages; more like a late breakfast (I think it's called brunch in some places)

At the game: Oilers at Canucks

A client gave me tickets to the Canucks game for tonight, so I got a rare chance to see a game live.

I always forget how fast the game is; you lose that sense when watching games on television.

It was, all things considered, a boring game. The Oilers took the shootout win on the final shot. Hemsky roofed one on Luongo.

The Canucks came out strong in the first, but by the second period had started to lag, and in the third, the young Oilers team simply dominated.

Gagner and Cogliano are as fast as you've heard, and excited to be playing in the NHL, too.

Can't say the same for the Canucks. Well, not all of them, anyway.

Kesler and Cooke had the fire in their eyes, but Naslund and Morrison seemed like they would rather have been somewhere else.

What has happened to Morrison? He looks deflated.

Luongo was composed tonight, and made a couple of great stops that kept the Canucks from getting overwhelmed by the Oilers.

Like I said, the game was a bit boring.

But I'm glad I was there. You forget how fast they are.


LUNCH: Deli-style sandwich, heaped with pastrami