PITTSBURGH – For years, as Sidney Crosby kept producing Hall of Fame numbers despite battling a concussion that threatened to derail his career, Buffalo Sabres coach Dan Bylsma heard the same questions about the Penguins superstar.
“I got the question, ‘Is he playing as good as he ever has? Is he not playing as good as he ever has? Is he better now than he was two years ago?’” said Bylsma, who coached Crosby six seasons.
Right now, Crosby has an NHL-high 34 goals and 69 points in 57 games entering this afternoon’s tilt against the Sabres at PPG Paints Arena.
Just months shy of his 30th birthday, Crosby is still a dynamic presence in the prime of his career.
To Bylsma, Crosby still sets the bar among players.
“You watch him play the game, and I think it’s tough not saying he’s not the best player in the game right now with how he’s playing, the consistency of which he’s playing,” Bylsma said.
Crosby has 15 goals and 50 points in 32 career games against the Sabres. The center has a four-game point streak against the Sabres and points in 23 of the last 24 against them (11 goals and 41 points).
