Dan Bylsma meet Reg Dunlop

For the second straight game I watched Sidney Crosby get targeted and take cheap shots from a guy who has less hockey skills than would be on display at a midget all star game. On Saturday night in Buffalo it was Mike Weber, on Wednesday night in Pittsburgh it was Crosby's former linemate and road roomate Colby Armstrong. This has been a common strategy lately by Penguin opponenets as Crosby is in the midst of a historic point streak, 18 straight games. Both Toronto and Buffalo came out in the media and said that one of their stated goals was to "make Crosby uncomfortable" and get into his face. This is also nothing new in the game of hockey as this strategy is as old as the game itself and has been employed on superstars from the Rocket Richard to the Great One. I am not disturbed by this tactic employed by Crosby's and the Penguins opposition, but I am deeply concerned by Penguins coach Dan Bylsma's reaction to this ongoing strategy. Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero has developed a roster full of guys who are willing to play the enforcer role, but if they are not in the lineup or more importantly not on the ice they can not fill this much needed role on the team. If opponents such as Colby Armstrong and Mike Weber are allowed to take liberties on Sidney Crosby, what do you think upcoming opponents such as the Flyers Chris Pronger and Dan Carcillo and the Rangers Sean Avery will do?

The Penguins next two opponents are the two teams on their heels in the Atlantic division and most likely two teams they will face on the road to the Stanley Cup in the playoffs. It is time for Penguins coach Dan Bylsma to foget about his teams streak of 12 straight wins and make a statement that opponents who take runs at his star player will pay a steep price so the nightly cheap shots come to a stop. Sometimes you might loss a battle to win a war and this is the perfect example of that statement; dressing and playing Eric Godard, Mike Rupp, and Derek Engelland might not be the best strategy for winning a regular season game in December, but it will make a statement that Crosby hunting season is over. Is it not enought that Crosby has managed to lead the league in points and goals playing on a line with two guys who wouldn't make an AHL All Star game, but now he has to put up with taking punches on a nightly basis. Crosby even admitted after the game Saturday night that he figured Weber was got to "go after him", and he knew he would have to take the punishment and make them pay on the power play. This is a noble statement and one that follows Bylsma's strategy of piling up regular season points, but this should never be a statement that comes from a star. This was all a result of Godard and Engelland being healty scratches and Rupp playing only 8 minutes.

Godard and Rupp and two of the best at what they do and they are more than willing to protect Crosby and show why they are universally known as great teammates, but to do so they need Bylsma to do his job and put them on the ice. Rupp, Godard, and Engelland all need to dress for both games this week and Rupp and Engelland need at least 10 minutes of ice time while Godard plays at least 5. I know you will see a noticeable change in opponents of the Penguins in general and Crosby in specific if they know they will have to answer to one of these guys their next shift. I don't know what it is going to take, but I suggest Bylsma should take Monday to screen "Slap Shot" and take a few cues from Reg Dunlop to protect his and the Penguins meal ticket.