Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins will begin their 2014 Stanley Cup quest against the upstart Columbus Blue Jackets and last year's winner Sergei Bobrovsky. Earlier this year, Crosby – who won a Cup with the Penguins in 2009 – captained Team Canada to a gold medal in Sochi, Russia.
"Just because you want to do it doesn't mean it's going to happen," Crosby said, of winning the Stanley Cup. "I think that makes you appreciate it, but at the same time, it motivates you to know that as much as you can kind of put forward to give yourself that chance, give your team that chance, you've got to do that."
He also just wrapped up his second Art Ross Trophy – as the league's leading point scorer – and is heavily favoured to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP this season, too.
"I don't know if because I've had a good regular season if that changes the expectations in the playoffs or not. I think they're there," he said. "I've had a good year. I don't really gauge the height of the expectations. I feel like they're high and I think the main thing is I put them pretty high for myself, anyway.
"I think that as far as I'm concerned, I need to make sure that I play well that time of year. That's the most important time of the year for the team."
Video: The Canadian Press
(Files from the Canadian Press, reporter Stephen Whyno)