JustSON the Numbers: Penguins Dynamic Duo

When penguin and dynamic duo are mentioned together most people (Casey included) would think of Batman. In this case I'm referring to the tandem of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins. These two have played together since the 2006-07 season and have been in opposing teams nightmares ever since.

Crosby has played one more season in the NHL than Malkin, having entered the league in the 2005-06 season. They have combined to play 532 games, score 247 goals, and dish out 454 assists for a total of 701 points in the regular season for their careers. They haven't slowed down in the playoffs either. There first season together in 2006-07 netted a short lived playoff run as they were knocked out in the first round by the eventual Stanley Cup runners-up, Ottawa Senators, 4 games to 1. In that series Crosby & Malkin combined for 3 goals and 6 assists.

The 2007-08 playoffs saw Crosby & Malkin make a huge jump from their first taste of the postseason as they led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Final. There they were beaten by the Detroit Red Wings (hockey's version of the New York Yankees) 4 games to 2. The two combined to net 16 goals and 33 assists in 20 games.

This seasons playoffs have the Penguins on a collision course with the Red Wings to meet again in the Stanley Cup Finals. Both teams lead their Conference Finals series 2 games to none. So far in 15 games of this postseason Crosby & Malkin have combined for 23 goals and 26 assists.

Compare that with last year when the duo averaged 2.45 points per game, and this year they are averaging about 3.26 points per game.

Both have gotten a hat trick (scoring 3 goals in one game) in this seasons playoffs already, which is not an easy task. Crosby actually got his in the Penguins semi-final series against the Washington Capitals in the same game that his rival Alexander Ovechkin netted a hat trick.

If the Penguins can manage to finish off the Carolina Hurricanes then defeat the Western Conference champion, Crosby & Malkin will have another shot to add a 3rd Stanley Cup to the franchises collection. It would be the teams first Stanley Cup since they won back to back Cups in 1991 and 1992 when they were led by current part owner Mario Lemieux as well as Jaromir Jagr.

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JustSON the Numbers: The Brothers Staal

Tonight at 7:30 pm eastern time on Versus is Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals featuring the Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. These two teams finished the NHL's regular season just 2 points apart (for those uncommon with hockey you get 2 points for a win, 1 point for an overtime loss and no points for a regulation loss). That is not what's intriguing about this match up though, this series will feature two of the three Staal brothers from Thunder Bay, Ontario that currently play in the NHL.

The Hurricanes have Center Eric Staal who is the oldest of the four Staal brothers, he will be on the opposing bench of younger brother Jordan Staal who is a Center for the Penguins. The other two brothers are Marc Staal, who is a defense man for the New York Rangers and was knocked out of this years playoffs in the first round by the Washington Capitals and Jared Staal who was drafted last year by the Phoenix Coyotes and is currently with their minor league club.

In comparing both Eric and Jordan they appear to be very durable, for instance Eric played in 81 of a possible 82 games his first year with Carolina and spent the next season with the Lowell Lock Monsters. The following year he was back with Carolina and played in every game and has done so ever since. Jordan entered the league in 2006 with Pittsburgh and missed only one game. The past two seasons he has played in every game.

Eric holds the statistical edge in almost all categories but not just because he has played in 164 more games than Jordan. In 5 seasons Eric is averaging 32.8 goals and 38.8 assists a season while Jordan is only averaging 21 goals and 18.7 assists per season. Eric's best season was in 2005-06 when he helped lead the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup and had his best statistical season with 100 points (45 goals, 55 assists). Jordan helped the Penguins reach last years Stanley Cup Final where they were beaten by the Detroit Red Wings.

In the statistics category Eric holds the edge over younger brother Jordan, but I think the Penguins will come out on top in this series.

If anyone has any requests for this column let us know. I don't discriminate, no matter the sport or the stat.