Slap Shots: Crosby at home in cold

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA, Times Staff Writer
Published December 30, 2007

For everything Sidney Crosby has accomplished in his young NHL career, the Penguins center faces a first on Tuesday.

Crosby's Penguins will face the Sabres outdoors in front of 70,000 fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium in a game nationally televised in the United States and Canada. For Crosby, it's the first time he will play outdoors since he played junior hockey in Rimouski, Quebec at age 16.

"I thought my outdoor days were done, for sure," Crosby said Friday. "I mean, as far as maybe getting home in the winter and playing the odd game outside with some kids or with some friends, I didn't think I'd be playing outside in an NHL game.

"In Rimouski, they had outdoor rinks. I can remember, we'd have an off day, I used to get my trainer to sneak my skates in my car and I used to go shoot outside and play outside.... I can remember playing under the lights. That was the best time. They'd flood the ice around 8:30, think everyone is done for the day. I'd sneak out around 9 or 9:30 in Rimouski. So I had a lot of fun doing that."

The forecast in Buffalo that day is calling for freezing temperatures and snow showers and 17-mph winds, but growing up in Nova Scotia, Crosby said his childhood outdoor games will help him adapt.

"I think the big thing I'm thinking about probably is the wind," Crosby said. "You know, as far as the cold, I think we've all prepared for that in some way growing up, whether playing outside or whatever it's been. I think the wind could be a factor. You know, it's something you have to think about."

Thrasher turnaround

He will go into New Year's Day a month shy of his 40th birthday, but Mark Recchi isn't done yet.

Since the Thrashers claimed Recchi on re-entry waivers Dec. 8, the right wing had given Atlanta a boost with nine points in nine games. He has scored a point in seven of those games, so he has been a presence.

"I'm getting the opportunity and the staff is showing, believing in me first of all, and putting me in opportunities where I can thrive - where I have thrived through most of my career," Recchi said last week. "I'm just enjoying myself. The attitude has been very positive for me."

Recchi's arrival also allowed the Thrashers to play Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa on different lines. Kovalchuk is alongside Todd White and Recchi, which Hossa is teamed with Slava Kozlov and former Lightning forward Eric Perrin.

They said it

"I think he was like a caged lion in Anaheim, and now he's out of the cage."

Coyotes TV analyst Darren Pang, a former NHL goalie, on the play of goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, claimed off waivers from the Ducks.

"We spit the bit in the last five minutes."

Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock after Columbus gave up two goals in the final four minutes in a 4-3 loss to Nashville, handing the Predators their 12th straight win over the Blue Jackets.

"A lot of times you've got to start guessing and he makes you look a little bit like a garage-league goalie because you pick glove and he goes blocker."

Flyers goaltender Martin Biron on teammate Joffrey Lupul, who has scored nine goals in his past eight games - including two hat tricks.

Seeing straight

New players association chief Paul Kelly is almost certain to address the controversy regarding visors with players in the offseason, and based on his comments this week in Buffalo, it sounds like he's on board with making them mandatory even if he hasn't said so publicly.

"I've actually gone down to the locker room after a game to personally grab (a player) and say, 'What are you doing playing without a visor? You've played your whole life with a visor. It makes no sense. You're too young. You've got too long of a career ahead of you. One lousy deflected puck, and you're going to lose a career or an eye?'" Kelly said.

[Last modified December 29, 2007, 21:33:11]