"In our country he walks on water." How age and injury isn't slowing Sidney Crosby at the 4 Nations
BOSTON, Massachusetts – He's the oldest player here. He almost wasn't going to be here thanks to an arm injury that he's still playing through. He's playing out of position – asked to take a spot on the left wing instead of the centre role he's played his entire life.
And yet, despite all of those factors, Sidney Crosby leads all skaters with five points through three games at the 4 Nations Face Off.
Not only has he produced points, he's been able to settle the nerves for a team that's needed settling at times. With Finland scoring three goals late in the third period to bring the game to within one and threaten an overtime frame that could have costed the eventual winner a spot in the finals, Crosby stepped up.
Throwing his body into the line of action to disrupt the play with a collision at centre ice before popping up and, corralling the puck, and hitting bulls-eye on the empty net.
"He was my favourite player growing up. I think for a lot of us, he was our favourite player." Nathan MacKinnon told reports on Monday in Boston. "He’s still one of the best passers in the game, one of the best players.”
The 37-year-old, Crosby has a chance to improve upon his remarkable era of dominance with a fourth best-on-best title. He's already the only member of the Triple Gold Club to win all three legs as captain.
Could one final best-on-best victory with the ‘C’ on his chest etch his name on hockey's Mount Rushmore? It's a position that has long been held by Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr, and Gordie Howe. But it's difficult to keep Sid off any longer.
“He's a true inspiration to all the young guys in our locker room, and even the older guys." Head coach, Jon Cooper had to say. "In our country, he walks on water and he's as humble as they come."
As if to prove Cooper's point, Crosby was quick to heap praise onto his mates in the post-game availability. “They set the tone.” Crosby said about MacKinnon and Connor McDavid. “That's what you need. Big-time plays from big-time players.”
Regardless of the result on Thursday, the hockey world has been blessed with yet another chance to marvel at one of the greatest players to ever lace them up.
