Nathan MacKinnon calls Sidney Crosby in between playoff games for advice

The Stanley Cup Final has been hard on Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon. He has yet to score a goal in the ultimate series, getting just two assists through three games against the Tampa Bay Lightning . He was held off the scoresheet entirely in Avalanche’s 6-2 loss in Game 3.

“Obviously I want to score goals, but I have to do my job out there,” MacKinnon said after Monday’s defeat. “[I have to] play really good defense, create for my linemates, forecheck, every little thing. Stay aggressive and shoot the puck. I feel like they will go in; I just have to trust myself. That’s all I can really do at this point. No time for doubt … have to find a few more lanes, but other than that, just stick with it.”

In order to get his mind straight, MacKinnon has been getting some help from no other than Pittsburgh Penguins’ superstar Sidney Crosby. The two star forwards are from the same neck of the woods in Nova Scotia, usually train together in the offseason and often keep in touch. While Crosby would most likely love to be playing against his buddy in the Stanley Cup Final, he is still watching the action and picking up the phone when MacKinnon needs advice. That’s what insider Kevin Weekes revealed Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday ahead of Game 4 in Tampa Bay later that day.

”Nathan MacKinnon is on the phone with Sidney Crosby in between games and Sid’s telling him not to put too much pressure on himself.”

We all know what MacKinnon can do: he has posted 11 goals and 20 points in 17 games with a plus-11 rating in nearly 21 minutes of ice time per game.

The Avalanche remains on top in the series ahead Game 4 on Wednesday night. The Avalanche could come back to Colorado with the chance to potentially hoist the Stanley Cup on home ice in Game 5 on Friday.

But no pressure, Nathan.