swflyers25
3-17-06, 7:07 PM
Canadian Press
3/17/2006 6:19:53 PM
MONTREAL (CP) - Sidney Crosby admits he has to learn to control his temper, but the 18-year-old NHL phenom doesn't want to lose his emotional edge.
The Pittsburgh Penguins rookie has been taking heat of late for complaining to officials about uncalled penalties when opponents take shots at him.
The latest came Thursday night in the second period of a 2-1 loss in New Jersey, when Crosby was handed an unsportsmanlike conduct minor for yapping at a referee who did not call an elbow from Devils defenceman Colin White.
"We had an argument," Crosby said Friday. "The thing is that I put my team behind and, in the end, I'm going to lose every time, so I have to watch out for that.
"But sometimes, it's just part of me being in the game. I try to do my best to control it, but sometimes it's frustrating."
Crosby is having an outstanding rookie campaign, as was predicted when he was drafted first overall by Pittsburgh last June, but he may also be gaining a reputation as a whiner.
Last weekend, Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson said character was a key difference between Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, his main rival for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year.
Alfredsson told the Ottawa Sun that Ovechkin "doesn't get frustrated when he gets hit, either. He gets up and keeps playing, not like the other rookie (Crosby), who starts crying. I think there's a big difference in attitude."
Crosby admits he needs to cool it, but adds that "I'm an intense player and I can't change that."
He's also a closely watched player - by fans, opponents and officials.
"Every time I say something, it's seen out there on the ice," he added. "Especially when it comes to talking.
"I'm sure tons of guys do the same thing, but I seem to be watched close and it's brought out more. I'm not saying it's right or that's what I want to be known as, but it's an emotional game and I'd be lying if I said I'm not going to get caught up in the game.
"Sure I'm going to try to improve it, but if I get too content with just going out and playing and not being intense, then I'm not playing the same way."
There will be plenty of attention paid to Crosby in the next four days when the Penguins face three Canadian teams - the Canadiens in Montreal on Saturday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs in Pittsburgh on Sunday night and Alfredsson's Senators in Ottawa on Tuesday night.
When asked if facing Alfredsson will take on extra meaning, he said: "I look forward to every game. When the time comes, I'm sure I'll prepare the same way. Right now, I'm just going to worry about this (Montreal) game."
Like all NHL stars, especially newcomers, Crosby gets tested by opponents, who hit, jab, poke and yap at him to put him off his game and see how he reacts.
Two stars from previous eras, Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux and Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky, also drew some criticism early in their careers for complaining about uncalled fouls.
Penguins coach Michel Therrien said Crosby must find the "fine line" between reacting and over-reacting, but doesn't want him to tone down his feisty nature too much.
"Sidney Crosby is an emotional guy," said Therrien. "You don't want to take that away. It's part of his game."
It hasn't helped that the 16-38-12 Penguins are last in the Eastern Conference. Crosby is not used to playing on a losing team.
"It's frustrating losing," he said. "I want to do as much as I can to help the team.
"When you have guys who are checking you close and maybe getting under your skin, it's obviously tougher. But that's no excuse. I'll never use that as an excuse. It's up to me to get through that."
He said the checking has got closer and tougher as his rookie year goes on, but he will look at it as a challenge he has to overcome.
It hasn't slowed him lately.
Before being shut out in New Jersey, he had nine points in his previous five games. Crosby is tied for 10th in NHL scoring with 31 goals and 43 assists in 65 games.
He sits eight points behind Ovechkin, who has 43 goals and 39 assists, but the Calder Trophy race rages on. New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, 26-9-8 with a .926 save percentage, is also in the hunt.
"It would be nice to win it, but it's not on my mind a lot," said Crosby.
Crosby got a vote of confidence this week from Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, who call him a "more complete player" than Ovechkin.
"He's going to make people around him better than maybe Ovechkin will. Ovechkin is a one-man show."
Crosby is already drawing notice to rookie Colby Armstrong, who has 23 points in 31 games since he was called up from the minors in December. Armstrong, from Lloydminster, Sask., was Pittsburgh's top draft pick in 2001.
Since Mark Recchi was traded last week, Jani Rita has played the other wing.
Crosby has been particularly dangerous against Montreal, scoring twice each (including once in a shootout) in two victories this season over the team that drafted his father Troy in 1984.
TSN (http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=159026&hubname=nhl)
3/17/2006 6:19:53 PM
MONTREAL (CP) - Sidney Crosby admits he has to learn to control his temper, but the 18-year-old NHL phenom doesn't want to lose his emotional edge.
The Pittsburgh Penguins rookie has been taking heat of late for complaining to officials about uncalled penalties when opponents take shots at him.
The latest came Thursday night in the second period of a 2-1 loss in New Jersey, when Crosby was handed an unsportsmanlike conduct minor for yapping at a referee who did not call an elbow from Devils defenceman Colin White.
"We had an argument," Crosby said Friday. "The thing is that I put my team behind and, in the end, I'm going to lose every time, so I have to watch out for that.
"But sometimes, it's just part of me being in the game. I try to do my best to control it, but sometimes it's frustrating."
Crosby is having an outstanding rookie campaign, as was predicted when he was drafted first overall by Pittsburgh last June, but he may also be gaining a reputation as a whiner.
Last weekend, Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson said character was a key difference between Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, his main rival for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year.
Alfredsson told the Ottawa Sun that Ovechkin "doesn't get frustrated when he gets hit, either. He gets up and keeps playing, not like the other rookie (Crosby), who starts crying. I think there's a big difference in attitude."
Crosby admits he needs to cool it, but adds that "I'm an intense player and I can't change that."
He's also a closely watched player - by fans, opponents and officials.
"Every time I say something, it's seen out there on the ice," he added. "Especially when it comes to talking.
"I'm sure tons of guys do the same thing, but I seem to be watched close and it's brought out more. I'm not saying it's right or that's what I want to be known as, but it's an emotional game and I'd be lying if I said I'm not going to get caught up in the game.
"Sure I'm going to try to improve it, but if I get too content with just going out and playing and not being intense, then I'm not playing the same way."
There will be plenty of attention paid to Crosby in the next four days when the Penguins face three Canadian teams - the Canadiens in Montreal on Saturday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs in Pittsburgh on Sunday night and Alfredsson's Senators in Ottawa on Tuesday night.
When asked if facing Alfredsson will take on extra meaning, he said: "I look forward to every game. When the time comes, I'm sure I'll prepare the same way. Right now, I'm just going to worry about this (Montreal) game."
Like all NHL stars, especially newcomers, Crosby gets tested by opponents, who hit, jab, poke and yap at him to put him off his game and see how he reacts.
Two stars from previous eras, Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux and Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky, also drew some criticism early in their careers for complaining about uncalled fouls.
Penguins coach Michel Therrien said Crosby must find the "fine line" between reacting and over-reacting, but doesn't want him to tone down his feisty nature too much.
"Sidney Crosby is an emotional guy," said Therrien. "You don't want to take that away. It's part of his game."
It hasn't helped that the 16-38-12 Penguins are last in the Eastern Conference. Crosby is not used to playing on a losing team.
"It's frustrating losing," he said. "I want to do as much as I can to help the team.
"When you have guys who are checking you close and maybe getting under your skin, it's obviously tougher. But that's no excuse. I'll never use that as an excuse. It's up to me to get through that."
He said the checking has got closer and tougher as his rookie year goes on, but he will look at it as a challenge he has to overcome.
It hasn't slowed him lately.
Before being shut out in New Jersey, he had nine points in his previous five games. Crosby is tied for 10th in NHL scoring with 31 goals and 43 assists in 65 games.
He sits eight points behind Ovechkin, who has 43 goals and 39 assists, but the Calder Trophy race rages on. New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, 26-9-8 with a .926 save percentage, is also in the hunt.
"It would be nice to win it, but it's not on my mind a lot," said Crosby.
Crosby got a vote of confidence this week from Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, who call him a "more complete player" than Ovechkin.
"He's going to make people around him better than maybe Ovechkin will. Ovechkin is a one-man show."
Crosby is already drawing notice to rookie Colby Armstrong, who has 23 points in 31 games since he was called up from the minors in December. Armstrong, from Lloydminster, Sask., was Pittsburgh's top draft pick in 2001.
Since Mark Recchi was traded last week, Jani Rita has played the other wing.
Crosby has been particularly dangerous against Montreal, scoring twice each (including once in a shootout) in two victories this season over the team that drafted his father Troy in 1984.
TSN (http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=159026&hubname=nhl)