Sidney Crosby, UPMC’s Scarantine Named NHL ‘First Stars’ for March

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has not lost his touch. The NHL named Crosby the East Divison “first stars” for March. In addition to Crosby, Frontline Healthcare Hero Darby Scarantine, a respiratory therapist with UPMC, was also given the East Division “first stars” recognition.

Crosby’s dominant March led to his selection.

Crosby scored 21 points (7g, 15a) in 15 games to lift the Penguins (23-11-2, 48 points) to a 12-3-1 month and into third place in the MassMutual NHL East Division. He scored in 12 of his 15 March appearances, highlighted by seven multi-point games, including a pair of three-point games: March 15 vs. BOS (1g, 2a, GWG) and March 25 against Buffalo (3a).

The three-assist game against Buffalo allowed Sidney Crosby to reach the 1,300 career point plateau. He was the eighth-fastest player in NHL history to reach the milestone (1,017 GP). The 33-year-old Cole Harbour, N.S., native ranked 42nd in NHL scoring through February (7g, 11a). Now he is 11th in the NHL with 39 points (14g, 25a) in 35 games.

The NHL is recognizing health care workers in cities across the league, like Scarantine. From the NHL release:

Scarantine, who has more than 20 years of experience, serves as a respiratory therapist (RRT) at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh. COVID-19, a respiratory disease, has placed a higher burden on RRTs like Scarantine – but he and others have stepped up to the challenge. “If a patient wanted to talk for 20 minutes, I still would do it,” he said. “It doesn’t matter. I’m exposing myself more, but the patient ultimately needs me.”

The other “first stars” in the NHL were:

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov and registered nurse Crystal Wimmer (Discover NHL Central Division), Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer and registered nurse Gina Minert (Honda NHL West Division), and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and healthcare aide Fathima Aranha (Scotia NHL North Division).