NEWARK, N.J. -- Jake Guentzel says he was aware that Sidney Crosby had been playing with a sports hernia since training camp.
Good thing Crosby confided in him, because nothing Crosby did on the ice during the Penguins' first 17 games suggested that he was operating at anything less than 100 percent.
"You don't see much difference with him (when he's healthy)," Guentzel said. "He's on his game every night. That's why he's the top player in the world."
Crosby not only is the team's leading scorer, with five goals and 12 assists, but was its -- and arguably the league's -- best two-way player, a force all over the ice on almost every shift.