SPORTSNET.CA
Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby is getting it from all sides, it seems.
First he was listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Now Washington’s Alexander Semin is questioning his worth.
Semin, teammate of Crosby’s scoring rival Alexander Ovechkin, told a website that he doesn’t think there is anything special about the Penguins captain.
“What’s so special about (Crosby)? I don’t see anything special there,” Semin, who leads the NHL with 16 points, said in an interview with Yahoo.com. “Yes, he does skate well, has a good head, good pass. But there’s nothing else. Even if you compare him to Patrick Kane from Chicago … (Kane) is a much more interesting player. The way he moves, his deking abilities, his thinking on the ice and his anticipation of the play is so superb.”
Crosby has 13 points in 11 games, but was forced to leave the third period of the Penguins’ 4-1 loss to Phoenix Thursday night.
Crosby said he isn’t sure how he injured himself, only that he felt discomfort.
“Honestly, I don’t even know what happened; I’d have to look at the tape,” Crosby told Pittsburgh reporters following the game. “I just had some discomfort. I just decided in the third period I couldn’t do much, so…”
NOTES: Ovechkin will miss Washington’s game at the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. The NHL’s reigning MVP is visiting his ailing grandfather in Russia.
Ovechkin also sat out Tuesday’s game, ending his consecutive games streak at 203. Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau says he thinks Ovechkin will be back for practice Monday.