Crosby Has 4 Points as Canada Keeps Rolling at Worlds

Pittsburgh Penguins and Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby seems to be thoroughly scratching that itch that came with missing the NHL playoffs for the third straight season. Saturday, Crosby had two goals and two assists as the Canadians improved to 5-0 with a 7-0 win over Slovakia in Stockholm, Sweden.

Crosby was named Team Canada’s player of the game.

While the Stanley Cup playoffs play out without Crosby and the Penguins, he is doing what he has done for each of his 20 NHL seasons — average more than a point a game. In Canada’s five games, Crosby has nine points (four goals, five assists).

Against Slovakia, Crosby picked up a secondary assist on Brandon Montour’s goal in the first period that made it 2-0.

In the second, Crosby easily scored into a gaping net behind Slovakian goaltender Patrik Rybar on a backdoor play to up the lead to 3-0.

From behind the net later in the second, Crosby found Macklin Celebrini with a centering pass, and Celebrini scored for a 4-0 lead.

In the third, Crosby shoveled the puck in from near the left post to put Canada up 6-0.

Former Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury dressed as the backup for the Canadians, with Jordan Binnington getting the start and earning a 14-save shutout.

Canada could face its staunchest test so far in the tournament in its next game, Monday against Finland.