The hardest thing about a head injury is the mystery that surrounds it. Unlike a knee or ankle, there aren’t outward signs that are easily measurable in a comeback, such as a loss of speed or agility. Like a concussion itself, there is just that cloud that not only prevents a player’s return but also shades how soon that return might be. That fog lifted from over Sidney Crosby on Monday, burned off by the beaming radiance of hockey’s golden boy, who was utterly dominant with two goals and two assists in a season debut 320 days since his last game.
The only mysteries remaining now are how good Crosby’s season could be and how far the Pittsburgh Penguins can go with him back on the ice.
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The 24-year-old’s first goal back, less than six minutes into Pittsburgh’s 5-0 demolition of the meek New York Islanders, was vintage Crosby. He sprinted down the ice, easily held off a defender as he shifted the puck to his backhand and flipped it past goalie Anders Nilsson.
That’s the kind of remorseless scorer Crosby had been and was becoming even more last season before his injury. He accumulated 32 goals in 41 games to put him well on pace to eclipse his career-best 51 goals in 2009-10.
At last check, it’s still November, and the Penguins still have 61 games to play. Would it be that much of a stretch to believe Crosby, if he’s back for good, could contend for a scoring title or the Hart Trophy?
His return also completes the Penguins’ most dangerous trifecta of offensive threats with Jordan Staal and Evgeni Malkin. The last full season the trio played together in 2009-10, they combined for 100 goals and 135 assists. But Staal didn’t return from foot surgery last season until the Winter Classic, and Crosby’s season ended five days later.
The Penguins (12-6-3, 27 points) were already in first place in the Atlantic Division before Crosby’s return and as of Monday night were owners of the best record in the Eastern Conference and tied for the most points in the NHL. In other words, Pittsburgh’s potential with Crosby back in the fold doesn’t seem so clouded.
– Craig Stouffer
