Penguins ready for special Sidney Crosby-Connor McDavid matchup

Generally speaking, Game No. 14 of any team’s regular-season schedule doesn’t carry that much weight in the NHL.

Sure, two points are two points no matter when they are acquired. But two points in November don’t feel as important as two points in March.

So when the Penguins take the ice Saturday, yes, they’ll do everything they can get a victory. But the notion of playing a nonconference foe from the other side of the continent in between Canadian and American Thanksgivings — and on an afternoon before Daylight Savings Time begins, no less — just isn’t as exciting as taking on a Metropolitan Division rival — who is only a three and a half-hour drive away — on primetime television as the nights gets shorter in the weeks between trade deadline day and tax day in the United States.

But when Game No. 14 involves the first “next one” and the latest “next one,” — like Saturday’s game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers — it’s different. It has been ever since Connor McDavid made his debut, and it will be until Sidney Crosby retires.

Even the ultimate pragmatist, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, acknowledges that.

“They’re elite players. They’re generational talents,” Sullivan said. “It’s fun to watch these guys play the game the way they play it. We’re privileged here in Pittsburgh that we get an opportunity to see Sid every day. I’m sure Edmonton feels the same way with McDavid. From a hockey fan’s standpoint, it’s a lot of fun to watch the generational talents on the ice together.”

Crosby certainly is aware of the weight the matchup carries, even if it’s superficially inflated from the outside by media or fans (or the league and its television partners).

“You get up for the challenge,” Crosby said. “You understand who you’re playing against and that you’ve got to be on top of your game. There’s always expectations, a few more eyes on those games. You want to make sure you perform.”

Comparisons between Crosby and McDavid predate the latter’s NHL existence. They began when McDavid skated as a junior two hours north of Pittsburgh for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League. Few truly could appreciate the franchise-savior expectations foisted on McDavid even before the Edmonton Oilers out-tanked the Buffalo Sabres in 2014-15 for the first overall selection in the 2015 draft.

Arguably, Crosby faced greater expectations when he was drafted in 2005. Not only did he need to boost the fortunes of the struggling Penguins. He also had to help the entire NHL emerge from the tenebrosity of the NHL lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 campaign.

Whether he wanted to be or not, Crosby has been the face of the NHL since then. He’s been joined by several worthy peers such as McDavid.

“Experience just helps,” Crosby said of being asked to comment on seemingly every matter in the NHL. “That’s probably the biggest thing. But you’re still learning even after a number of years and different situations that come about. You’re always learning. Just with experience. I wouldn’t say there’s one specific thing or a certain age. Just the more you go through things, the more your comfort level changes with that.”

Breaking into the NHL in the mid-2000s, Crosby didn’t have to tiptoe through the virtual minefield of Twitter or Instagram or similar platforms that were prevalent when McDavid debuted a decade later. The biggest social media imbroglio an 18-year-old, like Crosby was at that time, dealt with in 2005 was not hurting the feelings of a ninth friend when choosing which of your eight friends to list on MySpace.

“It probably helped that he was around it a little bit more growing up,” said Crosby, now 32. “It was kind of a new thing. I didn’t have that my first couple of years. It was probably a little bit easier for me having not grown up with it. He’s handled himself great. Obviously, he’s got a lot of pressure and expectations. He’s handled it really well. It’s kind of a personal thing. Everyone handles things personally, and he’s done a great job.”

McDavid, 22, hasn’t been too shabby handling things on the ice, either, as evidenced by the two instances he’s won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s top scorer. Crosby and teammate Evgeni Malkin are the only other active players who have won that award twice.

Through Thursday’s game, McDavid was fourth in the NHL with 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) in 14 games.

“Speed is probably the biggest thing that stands out when you watch him,” Crosby said. “He’s a great playmaker, he can shoot the puck, he can do everything well. But I think his speed really allows him to create all those things.”

The Penguins realize the unique challenge McDavid and teammate Leon Draisaitl, the NHL’s leading scorer with 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in 14 games, present. That’s why they’re treating this as Game No. 14 on the schedule. No more or less important than Games No. 13 against the Philadelphia Flyers or 15 against the Boston Bruins.

“It’s just the next game up,” forward Bryan Rust said. “Certain games, you always like to see some things, rivalry games or guys going head to head with each other. It’s always fun to see the game within the game. But I don’t think it changes anything.”

Said Sullivan: “I know you guys (media) are different than I am, but I don’t always look at it like it’s a Crosby versus McDavid matchup. I know that’s attractive from a media standpoint. But this is the Penguins versus the Oilers. It’s a team game. Both of those players are elite players in their own right. They’re generational talents. When they’re on the ice together, from a pure hockey fan standpoint, it’s a privilege to watch these guys, the way they play the game. But certainly the way I look at it as the coach of the Penguins is Edmonton has had a real strong start. We like the group that we have. It’s two pretty good hockey teams that are going to go to battle.”

Focusing on specific matchups between Crosby and and an opponent in his mesosphere isn’t exclusive to McDavid. Crosby and Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin have had a rivalry seemingly mandated by the NHL and NBC since they debuted in 2005.

But they play each other upwards of four or five times a season depending on the schedule and health. That number can be inflated to 12 games if they meet in the postseason. It’s a special rivalry, but it occurs regularly and frequently.

McDavid and Crosby only can meet twice in an NHL campaign given how the league structures its schedule. And that makes it unique, even to those who profess to treating each game like one of 82.

“Well, it could be nine, actually,” said a sanguine Rust, already owner of two Stanley Cup rings. “But two for sure. But it’s definitely something to have two of the best players in the world, if not the two best players in the world, go head to head seeing what they can do against each other.”

“Once we’re in a game, I don’t think we need to think about it,” defenseman Marcus Pettersson said. “It’s good. But you guys, media, hype it up. It’s good for the game. I don’t see a problem with it.”

If nothing else, Crosby realizes Saturday’s game will be one of the more noteworthy meetings of the 82 he will see this season.

“I get prepared knowing it’s going to be a good challenge knowing that you’re playing against him,” Crosby said. “Just knowing what he can do and the game that he plays. You have to be aware and prepare accordingly.”

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