\Sidney Crosby isn't just ending up on the scoresheet every night; he's ending up on highlight reels. Crosby added another beauty in a season filled with head-shaking tallies, his 21st in 23 games (yes, that is accurate).
An Evgeni Malkin shot went off of the near post and popped into the air. Crosby had the presence of mind and patience to wait for the puck to fall underneath the crossbar, and then batted it out of midair into the goal. Most players would have just swung away. Crosby used his sixth hockey sense to wait. Only the greats have that kind of mind-patience-hands blend.
\The Pens' scoring assault continued with a 7 spot against Arizona. Pittsburgh has scored 35 goals in its past 6 games, averaging 5.83 goals per game. Not coincidentally, all victories.
\You can't score that many goals without contributions throughout the lineup. That axiom held true against Arizona as 7 different players scored and 13 players ended up on the scoresheet. It was the depth players and blueliners chipping in with Scott Wilson, Bryan Rust, Nick Bonino and Trevor Daley.
\It may get overshadowed with all the goals the Pens scored, but don't discount the contributions from goaltender Matt Murray. The rookie netminder posted his fourth straight victory in net for his 11th of the season - the most among rookie tenders. He stopped Tobias Rieder on a breakaway and Jordan Martinook from point-blank (twice) en route to a 32-save shutout, his second of the season.
\You figured it would be a long night for the Arizona. They entered the game surrendering the most shots per game in the NHL (35.4) while the Pens were averaging the most shots per game in the league (34.6). True to form, Pittsburgh completely dominated the game from the opening faceoff. The Pens registered 30 shots through the first two periods, before easing off in the final frame. They still finished with 34 shots on net.
\The Pens had a lot of help in the game from the Coyotes in the game. Three Arizona turnovers led directly to Pittsburgh goals. The Pens capitalized when given those opportunities, but the Coyotes did not help their own cause in the contest.
