Sid's surge creates talk of 50-goal season

The Penguins are hoping he'll have another of those games Wednesday when they play the Rangers, who began the week with a five-point lead in the Atlantic Division.

"There's nights when you feel quick and you feel like you're able to make things happen," Crosby said. "There's nights that you definitely kind of get in that zone, for sure. ... It's not every game where everything clicks at the same time and when it does, you try to make the most of it."

Coincidentally or not, Crosby has gotten hot since the Capitals' Alexander Semin called him overrated, a player whose production has never matched his hype.

"What's so special about Sidney Crosby? I don't see anything special there," Semin said last month. "If you take any player, even if he is dead wood, and start promoting him, you'll get a star."

The criticism seemed curious given that Crosby scored more points (102) at a younger age than any player in league history in 2005-06, won the scoring title a season later at 19, then returned from a major ankle injury to lead Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup finals last season.

Crosby wouldn't say whether Semin's comments motivated him. Maybe he didn't have to.

"I don't think I really have to defend myself with words," Crosby said. "I play the game and play the way I feel I have to, the way I feel is the right way. If that's not up to someone's standards, that's fine. If they feel like they have to have their opinion heard, that's fine, too. But, you know, that's not really the way I go about it."