Auston Matthews pays tribute to Sidney Crosby ahead of Leafs-Penguins game
Photo credit: USA today
Auston Matthews had some high praise for Sidney Crosby this morning, ahead of the first matchup between the Maple Leafs and Penguins of the 2024-25 season.
Matthews and the Leafs will be taking on Crosby's Penguins tonight at 7PM EST in Toronto. This is the first matchup between the two teams this season, and the 21st time the two teams have faced each other since Matthews came into the league in the 2016-17 season. The Leafs hold the edge over Pittsburgh in those contests, 12-9. This is what Matthews had to say about Crosby ahead of tonight's contest.
"He's always a tough guy to play against. It's always a really good challenge. Like I've said before, what he's been able to do over the course of his career is pretty incredible. His consistency continues to be impressive, even in year 20. He's one of the top players and someone we have to look out for on the ice; he's very dangerous, so it's a fun challenge."
Likewise, Crosby had some words of advice for Matthews ahead of the game, showcasing the mutual respect the two players have for one another. His advice specifically relates to Matthews becoming the captain of the Leafs, a role Crosby has held for the Penguins for nearly his entire career.
"I think it's just important to be yourself. Here, everything is magnified that much more. There's always pressure being a captain, but here, I think you just got to be yourself. No matter how long you've done it or where you are, you're always learning. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."
Despite the fact that the Penguins are not expected to be a great team this year, it feels like a special season for their captain. We have already seen tributes being made to him since he signed a two-year extension with the team last month.
This year should be an eventful one for Crosby even if his team fails to make the playoffs again. He is currently 26 games shy of reaching 1300 regular-season appearances and just two points away from 1600. He should hit 600 career goals as well as he currently sits at 592. We should all take a moment to appreciate his presence in the league as his days as a player at least are certainly numbered at this point.
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12 OCTOBRE | 21 ANSWERS Auston Matthews pays tribute to Sidney Crosby ahead of Leafs-Penguins game Who do you think will win tonight's matchup between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Toronto Maple Leafs? | ||
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