NHL scores 2016: Sidney Crosby won’t let the league’s old guard go quietly into that good night

Look around at how lucky we are to have both Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid in the NHL at the same time. Crosby, after spending all season trailing McDavid, is now tied with the Oilers’ captain at the top of the NHL with 42 points after netting his 26th goal of the year on Wednesday.

Oh, and Crosby has done it in five less games played. Take that concussions.

But seriously, we as hockey fans benefit so much from having both Crosby and McDavid in the midst of incredible years. There’s been all this talk of Crosby versus McDavid — who’s going to come out on top, and who’s going to ultimately get rewarded for their achievements? Which is fair! We’re literally watching the baton being passed right before our eyes from the old guard to the new. Why not have a bit of fun competition between two elite players while they’re both still around?

Yet, there’s something to be said for Crosby. The old guard was never going to just lie down and go away that easily, and the Penguins’ captain is proof of that. Especially since Crosby is having himself one tremendous 2016.

McDavid’s time will no doubt come, but Crosby’s continued dominance is fool-proof evidence that the old guard is still around and kicking.

Maple Leafs 3, Panthers 2 (SO)
Penguins 3, Hurricanes 2
Lightning 4, Canadiens 3 (OT)
Blues 6, Flyers 3
Canucks 2, Kings 1

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1. Speaking of young players, Auston Matthews has something to say

Just because Sidney Crosby is great doesn’t mean the kids aren’t really really stellar too. Auston Matthews is now on pace for 41 goals after adding a goal in the Maple Leafs’ 3-2 shootout win in Florida.

That goal — his 11th in his last 15 games — pulled Matthews to within two of leading rookie scorer Patrik Laine. The rookie race: still great!

2. Robby Fabbri got his first career hat trick

The second-year Blues forward is turning into some player for St. Louis. In his 107th career hockey game, Fabbri netted his first career hat trick that propelled the Blues to a well-earned 6-3 win over the Flyers.

The Flyers, meanwhile, have not come off their 10-game winning streak well, with just one win in their last five games.

3. The Canucks were so close to shutting someone out

Since October of 2015, Vancouver has been unable to keep an opponent off the scoreboard, and that streak will continue after a 2-1 win on Wednesday. For 57 minutes, the Canucks were able to keep the Kings off the board, until Tanner Pearson broke through in the late stages of the game. Maybe next time, Canucks.

Shea Weber crushed Vladislav Namestnikov on a hip check that was probably not legal.