I guess I get why Sidney Crosby gets the benefit of the doubt. On one level, I even believe it's somewhat deserved.

After all, if there is anything that should be rewarded in hockey it's when the most talented player on the ice outhustles everybody else. And whatever you may say about Sid the Kid (and I'm sure you Rangers fans have plenty of choice words right about now), you must admit that he works as hard or harder than anybody on the sheet - including the guys who are only in the NHL because of their work ethic.

But even more mystifying is how Jaromir Jagr could have begun his career in Pittsburgh, developed into a superstar here and never learned the diving and face-clutching and horrified equipment shedding that has been part and parcel of Pens hockey ever since Mario Lemieux decided to shame the league into enforcing its obstruction penalties by embarrassing all officials who didn't do so.