Crosby held without a goal for 10th straight game

Sidney Crosby has been here before, but any time the best player in the world is held off the score sheet for this long, it's cause for concern.

The Pittsburgh Penguins captain was unable to score in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, marking the 10th consecutive contest in which he's failed to find the back of the net.

Crosby managed only two shots on goal in the defeat and played only 18:58, his lowest ice time since he was limited to 18:01 in a 7-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 21.

The reigning Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner earned that distinction by potting 44 goals in 75 games last season, but he's scored only five times in his first 18 contests this fall.

Crosby has chipped in a few assists during his 10-game scoring slump, but he's averaging fewer than two shots on goal over the last seven, and was managing fewer than three shot attempts per game at even strength coming into Friday's game.

The Penguins have struggled to score as a team lately, lighting the lamp a mere 10 times in the last five games, and they've won only four of their last 10 contests during Crosby's skid.

It won't get any easier for him or his club Saturday, when they'll meet the Nashville Predators for a Stanley Cup Final rematch on the road in the second half of a back-to-back.

Crosby's longest goal drought came in 2011-12, when he went 12 games without scoring.