Claude Giroux is “drained”

"Look at Crosby last year. He was 0.5 points per game in his first, what, 18 last year?" Jake Voracek asked. "Then he turned around, had 85 points and won a Cup."

While we're tempted to compare Claude Giroux to Sidney Crosby, it's hard to deny the talent of the latter and how he's putting on a show this season. As for Giroux, he's getting through a tough time. Still, it's a funny thing to say about someone who's currently 29th in the scoring race with 39 points in 48 games.

Too much pressure.

When Claude Giroux scored the overtime winner against the New-York Islanders 3 days ago, he ended a 1-month scoreless streak. During that 12-game streak, G' managed to add 7 assists to his total but in Giroux's standard, you still have to call it a slump. 

"I understand now better that it's not a one-guy thing. It's a group of guys helping each other," said Giroux. "When you put too much pressure on yourself, it drains you a little bit."

"There's always a lot of pressure on him, especially in Philly," Voracek said. "He's handled it very well. If you look a couple of years ago, it was a tough start for him to score that first goal. Then he took off and was a nominee for MVP."

A $66,200,000 surely doesn't help to lower the expectations. But one can't hope on Giroux to score goals night in and night out as he's never cleared the 30-goal mark.