Another National Hockey League coach -- Ted Nolan of the New York
Islanders -- has essentially labeled Sidney Crosby a diver.

Get used to it.

Just six games into his second season, Crosby has already accepted
that opposing coaches are looking to create a stir about his supposed
penchant for going down upon contact.

Crosby is especially aware that complaints will likely come from
coaches leading clubs within the Atlantic division -- like Nolan and
Philadelphia's Ken Hitchcock, who consistently called out Crosby last
season.

"You play hockey for a long time, and things don't change," Crosby
said. "Coaches are smart. Ted Nolan is smart. He knows that he plays
us seven more times. He wants to plant a seed and probably figures he
can do it early and see what happens.

"There is a competitive edge everybody is trying to gain, whether it
is a player or coach. ... I can look at myself in the mirror and tell
myself that I'm an honest player."

Despite seemingly being everywhere at Nassau Coliseum during the
Penguins' 4-3 victory in overtime, Crosby wasn't called for a penalty
Thursday.

From the opening face-off, Crosby put on a display of speed and skill
that are hallmarks of his best efforts. As was evident by his three
assists, the Islanders had no answer for him.

Knowing that the NHL's unbalanced schedule emphasizes divisional play
and that 14 additional points would be up for grabs between the
Islanders and Penguins this season, Nolan criticized the officiating
crew's handling of Crosby to the New York media.

"It doesn't make any sense at all," Mark Recchi said. "(Crosby) hasn't
got a diving penalty yet. They'll try to use every edge they can, but
it seems ludicrous until he gets a call. Nolan should worry about his
own team.

"They can try all they want. ... He doesn't dive."

To be sure, Crosby is not the first gifted hockey player that coaches
have attempted to label a diver.

Penguins coach Michel Therrien knows that his young star won't be the
last.

"Good players get attention from a lot of people," Therrien said.
"From (Maurice) Richard to Gordie Howe to Jaromir Jagr to Mario
Lemieux to Wayne Gretzky -- all those athletes are good players and
get the attention from a lot of people and frustrate them with the way
they play. Sometimes, something will be said to try and influence
other people. Probably that was what it was. (Nolan) was probably
trying to influence a decision.

"Sidney Crosby is tough to defend. They have to pull him down to
defend him. He's going to frustrate a lot of players and coaches. And
that's a good thing."

Another good thing for Therrien and his Penguins is that Crosby hasn't
shown a tendency to complain to referees this season about the rough
on-ice treatment.

"He's been pretty good this year with the amount of complaining going
on about him last year," said Colby Armstrong, one of Crosby's
linemates. "I haven't seen him say anything to the refs this year.
He's keeping his mouth shut about everything and doing a good job."

Heading into this season, Crosby was committed to controlling his
emotions on the ice.

"That doesn't mean I'm not going to talk (officials); I am," said
Crosby. "Hopefully, it is going to be more controlled and a lot less
threatening from my side."