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PITTSBURGH -- A year ago at this time, everybody in the NHL was wondering what was wrong with Sidney Crosby.Since then, almost everything has gone right for the leagues biggest name -- a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe Trophy, a World Cup and, now, the best start to his career.Almost assuredly, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs has been watching as Crosby plays some of the best hockey of his career -- and on Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena, a NHL No. 1 draft pick gets to go against the leagues No. 1 player on his home ice. For the second time this week.On Tuesday, 2015 No. 1 pick Connor McDavid put on a whirlwind of a show with three dazzling assists, yet they werent enough as Crosbys Pittsburgh Penguins beat McDavids Edmonton Oilers 4-3.Now, following the Penguins first regulation loss on home ice this season by 4-2 to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, Crosby will match up for the first time against Matthews, the top pick in the 2016 draft.Matthews enjoyed the most exceptionable debut of any rookie in NHL history with an opening night four goals -- he scored on his first three shots, no less -- against the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 12.He got everything out of the way in his first game, Crosby said Friday, referring to Matthews getting a lot of career firsts in a memorable debut.The Maple Leafs are 6-5-3 overall and 4-1 in their last five games after scoring four consecutive goals in the third period to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 6-3 Friday night. Morgan Rielly had a goal and three assists.Quite understandably, Matthews hasnt quite kept up that pace -- he has two goals in his subsequent (12) games -- but then who could? Not even Crosby has scored like that; hes never had a four-goal game in the NHL.It doesnt seem that long ago that Crosby was the young phenom lighting up the league, and he knows what Matthews and McDavid are going through.Thats some of the best times, going to buildings for the first time, playing against guys you were watching on TV year before -- its probably the most exciting time, your first year or two in the league, Crosby said.Then again, Crosby never has scored like this. His goal Thursday against the Wild was his fifth in four games and his ninth overall in eight games; he missed the Penguins first six games with a concussion.The last Penguins player to score nine goals in his first eight games in a season? Mario Lemieux during his comeback season in 2000-01, when he also had nine goals in his first eight.So imagine how Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk felt Thursday night when, with his team playing its first game in five days, the Penguins captain was alone in front of him, with the puck, on Crosbys first shift of the game.Any time Sid wants to backhand it into my chest, Im fine with that, Dubnyk said, with a smile. His backhand is as hard as many forehands. Obviously, not the guy you want to see standing in front of you that early in the game.Or any time, the way Crosby is playing now -- at age 29, 11 years since he broke into the NHL as Sid the Kid. That kid persona? Hes handed that off to players such as Matthews and McDavid.It brings excitement (to the league), to see them having such a big impact on the league and on their team is definitely a good thing, he said.Crosbys own start-of-the-season flurry is even better than that in 2010-11, when he had six goals in his first eight games en route to getting 66 points in his first 32 games, only to sustain a season-ending concussion the first week of January.As Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said before the Thursday game -- Crosby is the best player in the world, and defending against the best player in the world in any sport is a major challenge.Crosbys great start has helped the Penguins go 9-3-2 in their first 14 games, aided by a 6-1-1 record at PPG Paints Arena and an identical 6-1-1 record in their last eight overall. Custom Calgary Flames Jerseys . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. Flames Jerseys 2020 . -- Stanfords Kevin Danser knelt on one knee and hardly moved on the sideline as Michigan State celebrated its Rose Bowl victory and his Cardinal teammates made their way to the locker room. https://www.cheapflames.com/ . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. Flames Jerseys 2021 . PETERSBURG, Fla. Wholesale Flames Jerseys . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. PHOENIX -- Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin sat at his desk with a dazed look on his face, not sure what to say after a wild game that included 32 hits, 17 runs, great plays and bizarre sequences.You guys bring it up; I dont remember half the stuff that happened, Mackanin said after the Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-8 in 10 innings Wednesday to complete their first sweep at Chase Field in 10 years.Philadelphia scored two runs in the ninth to beat the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night and needed another rally to set up the sweep.Arizona went ahead 7-4 in the seventh inning on Paul Goldschmidts two-run double, but the Phillies scored four times in the eighth to go up 8-7.The Diamondbacks fought back in the bottom half, tying it on Jean Seguras infield single, but allowed Jeanmar Gomez (3-2) to escape a jam in the ninth.Peter Bourjos, who earlier had a two-run homer, hit a two-out single off Silvino Bracho (0-2) in the 10th and moved to third on Cody Asches single. Pinch-hitter Tyler Goeddel followed with a line drive to right field for a sacrifice fly and the go-ahead run.Brett Oberholtzer gave up a one-out single in the 10th, but got the final two outs for his first career save.Asche had three RBI, Cesar Hernandez finished with four of Philadelphias 17 hits and the Phillies won for the fourth time in five games.When we left Philly, we became a different team, Mackanin said. Im hoping we can take this momentum and build on it.The Diamondbacks are looking for some way, any way, to win at home.Arizona went 7-3 on a road trip that included a sweep of the Phillies, but returned home to lose three straight, dropping to 13-28 at Chase Field.Jake Lamb hit a three-run homer and Segura had two RBI for Arizona, which piled up 15 hits.We felt really good coming home from the road trip, the way we were playing, Diamondbacks starter Archie Bradley said. We are still grinding. We are still trying to put it together.Phillies starter Zach Eflin struggled early before settling into a rhythm.Lamb, who hit a solo homer Tuesday, hit his ninth home run in June in the first inning off the rookie right-hander, a three-run shot to center.Segura added a sacrifiice fly in the second inning, but Eflin retired 10 of the next 11 batters.ddddddddddddEflin allowed four runs -- three earned -- on six hits and struck out three in six innings.I felt good, he said. After the first and second innings, I was really locked in, pitching inside and keeping them guessing.Bradley was sharp in his previous two starts, allowing a run in 11 innings.The right-hander gave up more than that in the first inning against the Phillies, when Bourjos hit a towering, two-run homer to left.Eflin hit a leadoff double against Bradley in the fifth inning for his first big league hit and later scored his first run on Asches double that pulled Philadelphia to 4-3.Bradley allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out four in six innings.Minus the first two batters of the game, he said, I was able to settle in and get through six and leave with us having the lead.NUMBERSSeven of Lambs last nine homers have either tied the game or put Arizona ahead. ... The Phillies swept Arizona for the first time at Chase Field since a three-game series in June 2006. ... Bourjos is 24 for 51 in his last 17 games. ... Arizonas Michael Bourn has at least two hits in four of his past six games after going 4 for 5.TRAINERS ROOMPhillies: Top prospect Mark Appel, the first pick in the 2013 draft by Houston, is out for the season after having surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.Diamondbacks: Arizona had no update on Zack Greinke a day after the right-hander strained his left oblique and left after two innings against the Phillies. Manager Chip Hale said the team should have a better idea by Friday.UP NEXTPhillies: Jeremy Hellickson could be making one of his last starts for Philadelphia against Kansas City on Friday, with contending teams expected to be interested in the right-hander at the trade deadline.Diamondbacks: RHP Shelby Miller makes his first start at Chase Field since May 18 and third overall since returning from the DL (sprained right index finger) when he faces the San Francisco Giants on Friday night. ' ' '