Sidney Crosby Is Still Making Magic - and the Penguins Are Riding It
At 38 years old, Sidney Crosby isn’t just defying age - he’s redefining what it means to age gracefully in the NHL. With 18 goals in 25 games, Crosby currently sits third in the league in scoring.
And if you’ve been watching the Penguins lately, you know those numbers aren’t padded with empty-netters or garbage-time goals. He’s still doing it the Crosby way: with timing, vision, and a hockey IQ that’s somehow sharper than ever.
Let’s be clear - without Crosby playing at this level, Pittsburgh likely isn’t sitting in a playoff spot right now. His ability to turn any puck within reach into a scoring chance is keeping the Penguins in the mix in a tightly contested Eastern Conference.
Letang and Crosby: Still in Sync After All These Years
Friday night in Columbus was a perfect example of Crosby’s enduring brilliance - and the chemistry he’s built with longtime teammate Kris Letang. The opening goal was vintage Crosby-Letang: a backdoor pass from the defenseman that Crosby one-timed while dropping to one knee near the post. It’s the kind of goal that doesn’t just happen - it’s built on years of shared ice time, trust, and a mental playbook only they seem to have access to.
“When we play together for that long, we build chemistry and we build tendencies,” Letang said. “We work on different plays that we see in the game. And when we connect, it’s always fun.”
Fun - and historic. That goal marked yet another chapter in a partnership that has now produced 310 goals, tying them with Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty for second all-time among forward-defenseman duos. Only Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey have more (350), which tells you everything you need to know about the company Crosby and Letang keep.
Letang would later score the overtime winner that night, but it was Crosby’s second goal - the tying tally in the third - that had people buzzing.
The Geometry of Greatness
This one was a little different. Crosby jumped on the ice for a line change just as Evgeni Malkin was coming off.
Tommy Novak, mid-shift, sent a pass Crosby’s way - a little behind him, a little off. But instead of trying to corral it and slow down, Crosby let it slide behind him and used the boards like a bank shot in pool.
He chased it down at full speed, caught it off the bounce, and buried it on a breakaway before Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves could react.
“It’s just throwing it over there, really, and he makes the play to not play it and let it bounce off the boards perfectly,” Novak said. “It’s impressive by him more than me.”
That’s Crosby in a nutshell: turning a routine pass into a highlight-reel goal with a mix of spatial awareness, anticipation, and split-second decision-making. He brushed it off afterward, saying his main concern was staying onside and keeping his speed. But Letang wasn’t shy about giving credit where it was due.
“It’s Sid’s IQ, but it’s also Novak’s way of getting him the puck,” Letang said. “Usually you have to make a decision - turn and try to catch it, or use your speed and guess where it’s going. With a high hockey IQ like Sid has, you can find those openings.”
Still Finding the Net, Still Leading the Way
Even in Saturday’s 7-2 loss to Toronto - a rough night for the Penguins overall - Crosby found the scoresheet. Positioned right at the edge of the crease, he took a feed from Kevin Hayes and muscled a backhander past Dennis Hildeby. It was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise forgettable outing, but it was another reminder that Crosby doesn’t need much room to make an impact.
Then came Monday’s 5-1 win over Philadelphia, where Crosby opened the scoring on a rebound off a Bryan Rust shot. Later, Rust set him up again - this time with a deceptive backhand pass through traffic. Crosby, parked in the slot, didn’t hesitate.
“Rusty’s pass on the second goal was one I almost wasn’t ready for just because he sold that he was going to walk in and shoot,” Crosby said. “You’ve got to stay ready all the time.”
That’s the key for Crosby. He’s not blasting one-timers from the point or dangling through defenders on every shift. He’s living around the net, reading plays before they happen, and staying one step ahead of defenders who are often a decade younger.
“Especially around the net, you’ve got to keep your stick on the ice and be focused on finding the puck,” he said. “There’s a lot of bounces, and you don’t have a lot of time in those small areas.”
It’s not flashy - but it’s effective. And it’s been his bread and butter for years.
The Penguins’ Lifeline
Crosby’s production isn’t just impressive in a vacuum - it’s essential to Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes. He’s not riding shotgun on a younger star’s line.
He is the engine. And while age might eventually catch up to him, it hasn’t yet.
If anything, he’s playing smarter, more efficient hockey than ever.
So where would the Penguins be without Crosby? Probably not in a playoff spot. But with him still finding the back of the net, still making plays that defy logic, and still leading by example, Pittsburgh has every reason to believe.
Because as long as No. 87 is on the ice, the Penguins have a chance - and everyone else has a problem.