BigBen2Ward
12-30-2005, 12:44 PM
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The No. 1 draft pick is playing even better than the Pittsburgh Penguins expected, giving them hope in a season that has been a lost cause almost from the start.
Sidney Crosby, for sure -- but also goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, the No. 1 pick in 2003 who was supposed to be the Penguins' future before Crosby arrived this year.
Crosby had his second two-goal game in three games and Fleury turned aside 44 shots in another strong game as the Penguins ended a six-game losing streak with a 6-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.
"Marc-Andre was phenomenal and we capitalized on our chances and did a lot of good things," said Michel Therrien, who got his first victory as Pittsburgh's coach after 15 days and four consecutive one-goal losses.
Tomas Surovy also scored twice and defenseman Ric Jackman, a healthy scratch in three of the previous six games, scored Pittsburgh's first goal and set up the second to help the Penguins open a 4-0 lead. Pittsburgh had dropped 12 of 13 and hadn't won since beating Colorado on Dec. 10.
Mostly, though, this one belonged to the kids: the 18-year-old Crosby and 21-year-old Fleury, whose combined age (39) is one year less than 40-year-old Penguins owner-player Mario Lemieux.
Crosby has five goals in four games, including two against Philadelphia on Friday, and now has 18 goals and 40 points in 36 games. Fleury's record is a deceiving 3-7-3, but he has played very well despite facing 32 or more shots all but once in his last five starts.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=251229016
Sidney Crosby, for sure -- but also goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, the No. 1 pick in 2003 who was supposed to be the Penguins' future before Crosby arrived this year.
Crosby had his second two-goal game in three games and Fleury turned aside 44 shots in another strong game as the Penguins ended a six-game losing streak with a 6-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.
"Marc-Andre was phenomenal and we capitalized on our chances and did a lot of good things," said Michel Therrien, who got his first victory as Pittsburgh's coach after 15 days and four consecutive one-goal losses.
Tomas Surovy also scored twice and defenseman Ric Jackman, a healthy scratch in three of the previous six games, scored Pittsburgh's first goal and set up the second to help the Penguins open a 4-0 lead. Pittsburgh had dropped 12 of 13 and hadn't won since beating Colorado on Dec. 10.
Mostly, though, this one belonged to the kids: the 18-year-old Crosby and 21-year-old Fleury, whose combined age (39) is one year less than 40-year-old Penguins owner-player Mario Lemieux.
Crosby has five goals in four games, including two against Philadelphia on Friday, and now has 18 goals and 40 points in 36 games. Fleury's record is a deceiving 3-7-3, but he has played very well despite facing 32 or more shots all but once in his last five starts.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=251229016