In a conference where both the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins exist, it is sometimes hard to delegate where the attention should go to.
At this point in time, however, it's easy: the Penguins.
The Penguins are currently on a 10-game winning streak and look unstoppable. The Penguins are currently first in the East and the entire NHL with 40 points (19-8-2) and have winning records both at home and on the road.
You cannot talk about this streak without mentioning the play of captain Sidney Crosby. Sure, Crosby sometimes garners negative attention but in this case, it should all be positive.
Crosby leads the NHL in goals (24) and points (48) and is doing it the hard way - digging the puck out of the corners, going to the net for rebounds and deflections and on breakaways. He is doing everything a team captain should be doing, even if it's at the ripe "old" (in NHL years) age of 23.
Not only is Crosby contributing a ton of offense this season, but so is the team's defensive corps. Defenseman Kris Letang is second on the team in scoring with 26 points (5 goals and 21 assists) while Paul Martin (3-11-14) and Alex Goligoski (5-9-14) have also contributed steady offense to the team.
The team is also getting solid play from goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury struggled early on in the season but seems to have found his game during this winning streak. Fleury is now 12-6-1 with a 2.35 goals against average, a .912 save percentage and one shutout.
This streak could not have come at a better time as the team gets set to play in the Winter Classic on January 1 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh against the second-best team in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals. (They also play Dec. 23 in Washington).
It should be a couple terrific games; and if the Penguins manage to come out on top, they may be the front-runners to be the team representing the East come June.
Photo credit: Getty Images
At this point in time, however, it's easy: the Penguins.
The Penguins are currently on a 10-game winning streak and look unstoppable. The Penguins are currently first in the East and the entire NHL with 40 points (19-8-2) and have winning records both at home and on the road.
You cannot talk about this streak without mentioning the play of captain Sidney Crosby. Sure, Crosby sometimes garners negative attention but in this case, it should all be positive.
Crosby leads the NHL in goals (24) and points (48) and is doing it the hard way - digging the puck out of the corners, going to the net for rebounds and deflections and on breakaways. He is doing everything a team captain should be doing, even if it's at the ripe "old" (in NHL years) age of 23.
Not only is Crosby contributing a ton of offense this season, but so is the team's defensive corps. Defenseman Kris Letang is second on the team in scoring with 26 points (5 goals and 21 assists) while Paul Martin (3-11-14) and Alex Goligoski (5-9-14) have also contributed steady offense to the team.
The team is also getting solid play from goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury struggled early on in the season but seems to have found his game during this winning streak. Fleury is now 12-6-1 with a 2.35 goals against average, a .912 save percentage and one shutout.
This streak could not have come at a better time as the team gets set to play in the Winter Classic on January 1 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh against the second-best team in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals. (They also play Dec. 23 in Washington).
It should be a couple terrific games; and if the Penguins manage to come out on top, they may be the front-runners to be the team representing the East come June.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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