PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby left little doubt about who remains the best player from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. [url=https://www.customjerseysnikebaseball.com/custom-nike-los-angeles-a ngels-jerseys/]Custom Nike Los Angeles Angels Jerseys[/url] . Thats fine by Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalan

PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby left little doubt about who remains the best player from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. Custom Nike Los Angeles Angels Jerseys . Thats fine by Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche. At the moment, theyll settle for one of the best records in the NHL. Jean-Sebastien Giguere turned aside 34 shots and the surprising Avalanche edged the Pittsburgh Penguins 1-0 on Monday night to improve to 8-1 on the young season. "Its a new season, new attitude," Giguere said. "I would have believed being over .500 (early) but not 8-1." Believe it. Gabriel Landeskog scored the games only goal 5:26 into the second period and Giguere made it stand to post his second shutout in 11 days. The 36-year-old handled the Boston Bruins on the road on Oct. 10 and might have been even better against the Penguins. It helps to have a coach who knows a thing or two about keeping the puck out of the net. Hall of Famer Patrick Roy is thriving in his first season on the bench and his young team -- along with its not-so-young backup goaltender -- is thriving. The Avalanche have allowed just 12 goals in nine games. "Yes, our goaltenders have been outstanding (and) everybody is talking about our team," Roy said. "Everyone is part of our success right now. Its a 23-man story." The first professional meeting between MacKinnon and Crosby failed to produce fireworks, not that Crosby didnt try. He pumped a season-high seven shots at Giguere and played more than 26 minutes. MacKinnon, by comparison, produced two shots in 10:54 of ice time as the Avalanche spent a large portion of the night relying on their penalty killers. Pittsburgh went 0 for 7 on the power play, generating numerous scoring chances but not a goal. "We did a lot of good things and probably deserved better," Crosby said. "Thats how the game works sometimes. Sometimes you dont deserve them and you find a way to win and tonight we deserved better and didnt find a way to win." MacKinnon spent most of his childhood growing up in Crosbys considerable shadow in the town of about 25,000 hard against the Atlantic Ocean. He followed a similar path to the NHL, playing on the same junior team Crosby once starred for and showcasing prodigious talent as a playmaker. Taken with the drafts top pick nearly a decade after Crosby, MacKinnon has a goal and six assists through his first nine games, a pace not too far off the one Crosby set during his rookie season in 2005-06. Crosby said before the game hes hardly surprised at how well MacKinnon has fit in but the two brushed aside any talk of a battle for local bragging rights, perhaps because their arrivals into the NHL couldnt be more different. Unlike Crosby, whose presence almost single-handedly revitalized a sagging franchise, the 18-year-old MacKinnon is not viewed as a saviour, but a piece of what is quickly becoming a compelling puzzle. The Penguins dominated the early going, but had nothing to show for it as four power plays went to waste. Buzzing Giguere constantly, Pittsburgh peppered the veteran from all angles. The 11-4 advantage in shots didnt even include the dozen Gigueres teammates blocked before they even made their way to the net. Colorado steadied itself in the second period and caught a bit of a break when the puck made its way to Landeskog shortly after he exited the box after serving a hooking penalty. He skated into the Pittsburgh zone and fired a wrist shot from the right circle that handcuffed Marc-Andre Fleury and sailed into the net for his third goal of the season. "I couldnt see it," said Fleury, who finished with 13 saves. "The guy was going blocker side and (teammate Brandon Sutter) tried to get the puck going one way and it went the other way." It was enough to send the Penguins into the dressing room trailing at home after two periods for the first time this season. The Avalanche felt comfortable enough with the lead to sit back and frustrate the Penguins. It worked. Giguere was spectacular at times, no more so than when he robbed Chris Kunitz with a glove save at the end of a 2-on-1 break with less than 8 minutes remaining. Pittsburgh continued to press but Giguere never budged. Neither did the players in front of him on a night the Avalanche blocked 22 shots. "You have to give them credit," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. "They had more than Giguere get in the way tonight." NOTES: Pittsburgh D Kris Letang skated with his teammates on Monday morning, but remains out with an undisclosed lower body injury. Coach Dan Byslma said the Norris Trophy finalist is nearing a return ... The Avalanche scratched D Nick Holden, D Tyson Barrie and F Cody McLeod ... The Penguins are off until Friday, when they host the New York Islanders. The Avalanche head home to play Carolina on Friday. Custom Nike Los Angeles Dodgers Jerseys . -- Max Gilbert captured his first pro victory at the Tour Championship of Canada. Custom Nike Chicago White Sox Jerseys .Those stars, most notably the top line of James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel, struggled against the Montreal Canadiens and must be better as the Leafs look ahead to facing the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers this weekend. https://www.customjerseysnikebaseball.com/custom-nike-pittsburgh-pirates-jerseys/ . Ibrahimovic put PSG ahead when he got in front of his marker to neatly flick in Lucass cross in the 59th minute. New signing Yohan Cabaye came on as a second-half substitute and headed Ezequiel Lavezzis cross against the post in the 87th. Moments later, Lucas set up another goal from the right when fellow countryman Alex turned in his corner with a strikers finish.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca. Hi Kerry, So the Canucks are on the wrong side of a seven-minute power play (again) and this time, it was a 5-on-3 power play for the Ducks! In all my years of watching hockey, I have never seen a 5-on-3 power play for that length of time. Ive tried my best at looking at the play and I came up with a ruling of how I would have called it, would you agree with my assessment? Tom Sestito hits Mathieu Perreault before the whistle blows - watch closely and you can see Sestito hit Perreault before the whistle blows. Tim Jackman comes in with his stick high which is met with high sticks from a few other players. Sestito then drops the gloves and drags Jackman down. During this, Sami Vatanen comes in from the blue line and puts Jannik Hansen in a headlock. The linesman comes in and while Jackman is down on the ice, Sestito throws a couple more punches. Meanwhile, Hansen is trying to break free and drops his gloves thinking that hes with a willing combatant. But Vatanen keeps his gloves on and Hansen stops once hes separated. For this, I would define Jackmans actions after Sestito dropped Perreault as the beginning of the incident. As such, I dont think that an instigator should have been awarded here. To get them both out of the game, I would have given each five for fighting and a ten-minute misconduct. For Hansen, I would have given him either a double minor for roughing or a five for fighting and a ten minute misconduct. However, Vatanen coming in from the blue line and putting Hansen in a headlock deserved a two minute minor for roughing. This would have left the Ducks with a power play, but not a seven-minute 5-on-3! As always, I would love to get your opinion as its rare to hear a referee explain their calls in any sport. Would you like to see referees respond to questions from the media in the future? Gareth EvansRichmond, BC ----- Gareth, I like your assessment better than the seven minute 5-on-3 for a couple of reasons. 1) As you correctly pointed out there was some initial response from two Duck players (Tim Jackman and Sami Vatanen) that was not recognized in the penalty assessment. 2) The secondd issue I have is that with 7:11 remaining in a blow-out Duck win, any subsequent infraction that a Vancouver player might receive would be treated as a "delayed penalty" if it was assessed prior to the expiration of the major penalties incurred by Tom Sestito and Jannik Hansen. Custom Nike Miami Marlins Jerseys. This scenario provides little deterrent for Vancouver players to restrain themselves from taking penalties. Also, the more goals the Ducks might score during the extended two-man advantage would only intensify the frustration that Vancouver players were already feeling. My objective in this situation would certainly be to remove the troublemakers from both sides to eliminate future confrontations or a potential gong-show. I would also want to manage players negative emotions if at all possible. As such, I would be very cognisant of not piling on, or further embarrassing the Canucks in a similar way that Temmu Selanne demonstrated class by not celebrating his second power play goal of the night to make the score 8-1. Selanne seemed almost reluctant to shoot the puck on the 5-on-3 at times. The shot he ultimately scored - his second power play goal of the night - was not one of his best efforts but it still found its way past Joacim Eriksson. Some game management - when the situation calls for it - is intelligent officiating! My penalty assessment on the play goes like this Gareth: Vancouver Tom Sestito - 2 minutes rough (on Perreault) - 2 minutes high sticking (on Jackman) - 5 minutes fighting (on Jackman)- 10 minutes misc. (continuation of a fight/resisting) Jannik Hansen - 2 minutes roughing - 5 minutes fighting- 10 minutes misconduct (continuation of a fight) Anaheim Tim Jackman - 2 minutes high stick sticking (on Sestito)- 5 minutes fighting (on Sestito) Sami Vatanen - 4 minutes roughing The end result is that Vancouver would play one man short for five minutes since the minor penalties would cancel out and Tim Jackmans fighting major would cancel with either Hansens or Sestitos. Either way, coach John Tortorella would place a man in the box prior to the expiration of the major penalty. ' ' '