What Happened
Sportsnet's Michael Amato highlighted several early-season oddities in the Friday Four, including Sidney Crosby's slow start to 2026-27. Crosby has four points in his first seven games, managing two points through six games before a two-goal outing on Tuesday. He also went four straight games without a point, the first such stretch for him since January 2023. The piece frames these numbers as small-sample results that may not hold.
Key Details
- Crosby has four points in seven games to open the 2026-27 season.
- He recorded two points in his first six games before a two-goal game Tuesday.
- Crosby's four-game pointless streak was his first since January 2023.
- Sportsnet's Michael Amato wrote the Friday Four analysis published October 16, 2026.
- The article also cites the Penguins' 2025-26 start, when they won six of eight and later made the playoffs.
What It Means
Crosby's production is below his usual standard, but the source frames it as an early-season anomaly rather than a definitive decline. The comparison to Pittsburgh's 2025-26 start, when a fast opening eventually led to a playoff berth, suggests early trends can be misleading in either direction. No injury or other explanation is reported.