Crosby's leadership keys playoff run

May 9, 2008 - 10:08 AM By Zachary Ingraham PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

Sidney Crosby has been one of the most talented players in the NHL since entering the league, but it's his leadership skills that have taken the Pittsburgh Penguins to the next level this season.

In just his third NHL campaign, the 20-year-old Crosby has led the second-seeded Penguins to the Eastern Conference finals.

"I think with each year you play, you try to improve everything, and you realize how important every detail of the game is and what a difference it makes when you're playing," Crosby said of his developing leadership skills. "It might not always show up on the scoresheet, but those are little things that help your team win and are important to show and lead by example with."

"Even though Sidney's only 20 years old, he's a true leader," Penguins coach Michel Therrien said. "And the way that he's going to handle himself on the ice, the way he's going to handle himself off the ice, that's why he's such a good leader for our group."

Just four wins away from their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 16 years, the Penguins' remarkable turnaround can be traced back to Crosby's arrival.

Before Pittsburgh drafted the superstar center first overall in 2005, it had become the laughingstock of the NHL. The Penguins had finished last in the Atlantic Division the previous three campaigns, failing to exceed 65 points in any of those seasons.

While the turnaround was not immediate, Crosby - along with Evgeni Malkin - quickly made the Penguins the most feared offensive team in the league. The phenoms have combined for 140 goals and 383 points over the past two seasons.

Pittsburgh's first trip to the playoffs during the "Crosby Era" did not last long, as it was eliminated by the Ottawa Senators in the conference quarterfinals in five games last season.

En route to capturing the Art Ross and Hart Trophies in 2007, Crosby led the league with 120 points. He also added three goals and two assists during the club's limited playoff action.

The youngest captain in NHL history, Crosby faced some adversity this season as he missed significant time after sustaining a high ankle sprain. Still fighting for their playoff lives, the Penguins rallied around their star player's injury and some stellar play from Malkin - a Hart finalist - to finish with the conference's second-best record.

"We ended up losing Sid, and that was adversity for us to make the playoffs," Therrien said. "The resilience of that team never stops surprising me. You know, a guy like Malkin elevates his game to another level. We needed that. We give other players different roles that they were not used to. That's why, you know, it's like they learn through that adversity."

Crosby has managed just two goals in Pittsburgh's nine contests thus far this postseason, but his leadership along with his league-high 12 assists have helped the Penguins reach this point.

"I think I've always tried to lead by example," Crosby said. "I think we have a lot of personalities, and the main thing is the guys' attitudes. If you have a bunch of guys like we have with the right attitude, we're going to push each other to be better."