Sidney Crosby’s name appeared nowhere on the scoresheet after Sunday night’s 3-1 Pittsburgh Penguins victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.

He had no goals or assists. He wasn’t on the ice for a goal scored by either the Penguins or the Hurricanes. He attempted five shots, with two of them reaching the net.

But if coach Mike Sullivan had a vote, he probably would have named Crosby one of the three stars of the game.

In his postgame meeting with reporters, Sullivan offered unsolicited praise of his captain’s efforts in helping the Penguins win for the fourth time in their last five games.

Sullivan lauded Crosby’s offensive-zone efforts early in the game. His line, with wingers Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust, buzzed around the net consistently.

“Whatever it takes, night in and night out, he’s such a consistent player for us,” Sullivan said. “He could have had four assists in the first 30 minutes of the game. I thought he was a force in the offensive zone. There could have been a handful of penalties called on him with the way he hangs onto the puck and he’s so hard to defend against.”

Sullivan praised Crosby’s defensive efforts late in the third period as the Penguins tried to protect a two-goal lead.

“The last five minutes of the game, he was probably out there three of the five minutes defending against the six on five, defending the five on four when it went four on four and they pulled the goalie,” Sullivan said. “He was the one guy who was dominant in the faceoff circle. I thought his defensive effort was on display tonight. He’s the best 200-foot player in the game.”

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