BUFFALO, N.Y. — Ever since his son was little, Troy Crosby tried to stress the importance of having a good backhand.
Not only as a helpful hockey dad, but as a former goaltender, drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, who was keenly aware of what drives his kind crazy.
“I remember my dad telling me to try and be comfortable on your backhand,” Sidney Crosby said. “It’s an important skill. I think it was something that probably came easy to me. Some guys are more comfortable there. That was the case.”
Crosby’s backhander has always been better than that of his peers, and that has become even more obvious during his goal-scoring resurgence this season, the second 40-goal season of his career and his best total (41) since scoring 51 in 2009-10.
Five of Crosby’s 41 goals this season (12.2 percent) have via backhand, including two of the past three.
That’s impressive, sure, but it actually falls short of his career numbers (54 of 379, 14.2 percent).
Nonetheless, Crosby’s one-handed backhander against Buffalo on Tuesday was further proof that Crosby is beyond comfortable scoring that way. It was the best goal anyone in the NHL has scored this season, and it’s not likely to lose its place, all because of what Crosby can do on his backhand.
“It was probably a bit of a faster learning curve,” Crosby said of perfecting his backhander. “It can be frustrating when you’re a kid and you’re working on your backhand. It doesn’t really feel great. But it’s one of those things that can help.”
One of the reasons Crosby is so good at shooting the puck backhanded becomes obvious by taking one look at the curve of his stick.
Essentially, there isn’t one.
It enables him to generate significant power with his shot, not to mention pinpoint control.
“It’s such a flat blade,” Matt Murray said. “Most guys have a pretty big hook, so on their backhand they’re at a significant disadvantage. His is pretty straight. That definitely gives him a huge advantage on the backhand.”
Marc-Andre Fleury said Crosby’s placement with his backhand shot stands out. Also the velocity he’s able to generate because of his superior upper-body and forearm strength.
When a shooter checks all of those boxes, it translates into something that’s really, really tough for a goalie to read, let alone stop. Troy Crosby knew that.
“He can shoot anywhere he wants to,” Fleury said. “I think he has more control of it than most people. He’s more accurate, and it’s harder than a lot of other guys’ shots.”
Playing on a line with Crosby has been an adjustment for Conor Sheary because of that backhand.
No matter where Crosby is on the ice, he’s a threat to score or deliver a pinpoint pass, even if he doesn’t necessarily indicate where he’s going with the puck by where he’s looking.
“You definitely marvel at it, but when you play on a line with him, you appreciate it,” Sheary said. “You know when he’s coming down on his off-wing, can still make a play. I think his vision on his backhand is one of his biggest assets.”
For Crosby, the key is to not focus too much on his backhand. He knows the easiest way to score is still on your forehand, and the best goal-scorers can find a way to shoot the puck that way no matter what.
“It’s kind of a balance of trying to be comfortable there and make plays, but if you can get to your forehand, you have a better chance of making plays most times,” Crosby said. “With my curve and stuff, it’s something that’s a little easier for me, probably.”
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: March 22, 2017, 2:58 p.m.
