CALGARY, Alberta -- Amid the Flames' self-described 'C of Red' inside the Scotiabank Saddledome, there was a fair amount of black and gold. Hundreds of fans could be seen Thursday night wearing the No. 87 sweaters of Sidney Crosby — some in Penguins models, some in Team Canada models — all in full throat for his annual visit here.
In his second game in three nights in Alberta, he sure didn't disappoint.
His goal in Edmonton two nights earlier, a dangling, backhand, overtime winner, was one for the ages. Mike Sullivan deemed it one of the prettiest he's seen in his quarter-century in the league.
Thursday night, 4:23 into the first period of what became a 9-1 laugher for the visitors, might also make at least honorable mention on any such list. And it probably ought to be weighed that, after it was shown on the big video board, Calgary fans -- regardless of rooting interests -- could be seen cheering their own approval.
No, this one wasn't scored in the gimmicky 3-on-3 overtime format. This one wasn't with only a tired forward as the last line of defense. This was a 5-on-5 goal and it was vintage Crosby.
On the backhand ...
It's probably the best backhand the NHL has seen since some guy named Gretzky plied his craft a few hours north of here.
Sullivan said the beauty of Crosby's backhander isn't just the accuracy, but the velocity.
"I think he's one of the best players, not just shooting on his backhand, but playing on his backhand," the coach said. "He makes plays, he can shoot the puck. And for a goaltender, it's really tough because it's hard to pick up where the pucks coming off with a backhand shot. It's very deceptive. With Sid, not only is it deceptive, it's hard. That first goal was ... that's an elite goal-scorer's goal."
Indeed.
What made it so remarkable, though, was that he was able to roof his backhander from 15 feet out at almost zero angle. Crosby shot it from about a foot in front of the goal line.
"I saw some space there," Crosby said. "I got some help. I think it ramped up their defenseman's stick. Just trying to get it to the net and get it to the short side and got a fortunate bounce there."
That wasn't a defenseman, though, that was center Sam Bennett, who picked him up on the backcheck, only to be fended off by Crosby.
And as far as ramping the puck or getting a "fortunate bounce," there's none to be seen:
The shot was all Crosby. The only help he received was from his teammates.
As seen below, Jake Guentzel corralled a loose puck in the Penguins' zone and headmanned it along the boards to left winger -- yes, left winger -- Derick Brassard at the blue line. Brassard, who picked up the first of his three assists on the night, found Kris Letang streaking down the middle to lead the rush:
The two Calgary defensemen, the Flames' top pair of Noah Hanifin and Travis Hamonic, were fixated on Letang, but the Penguins' defenseman, who is making a very early push for the Norris, slid a backhand pass over to Crosby at the top of the right circle. Hanifin and Hamonic closed in on Letang while Bennett picked up Crosby, albeit a hair too late.
As Bennett and then Mike Smith found out, there's just no great way to defend Crosby.
Especially if he's on his backhand.
