The goal was vintage Sidney Crosby.
As the second-period clock ticked under 30 seconds, the Penguins’ captain took a short pass in the neutral zone from Patric Hornqvist, turned and accelerated.
Displaying the exquisite blend of speed, balance and deceptive power that make him such a singular talent, No. 87 blew past Ondrej Palat, Anton Stralman and late-arrival Victor Hedman before ripping an ice-hugging bullet between the pads of Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Sid’s sensational tally stunned the Lightning and provided his team with a huge lift going into the dressing room—not to mention a 3-0 lead.