Crosby breaks 14 year pre-game routine for Marleau

Ever since Sidney Crosby's second season in the NHL the order of the final players to come out of the tunnel has been the same. Crosby comes out second last and Malkin comes out last, that changed Tuesday night for the first time since the 2006-2007 season.


The story goes that both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin both wanted to come out last when Malkin joined the NHL for the 2006-07 season. Crosby always came out last in junior and in his rookie season with the Penguins, but Malkin pulled rank stating he was older and had more "pro" experience than Crosby at the time. Malkin got his way and it has been Malkin out last, Crosby out second last for the last 14 years. 

The Penguins entered Tuesday's game with Ottawa on a six game losing streak, Crosby gave his spot in the tunnel to newcomer Patrick Marleau and it immediately paid off with a 7-3 over the Senators. Marleau laughed off the superstitious captain, saying " I'm not a superstitious guy, I'll just keep lining up where Crosby wants me."   Sounds like a solid plan to me.