The Sidney Crosby Era began last night in Wilkes-Barre, of all places.

I am not a fan of this shootout nonsense, but flawed hockey is better than no hockey.

Crosby nets one assist in Penguins' OT loss

Sidney Crosby didn't light up the scoreboard, didn't carry the Penguins on his back and wasn't even one of the game's three stars in his professional debut Wednesday night.

The 18-year-old rookie wonder from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, even had a few fairly unremarkable shifts as the Penguins lost in overtime, 5-4, to the Boston Bruins at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.

But Crosby, nonetheless, proved anyone who dares look away when he's on the ice runs the risk of missing something impressive.

"You saw what he can do out there; he's a difference maker," said Mark Recchi, who along with Ryan Malone was one of Crosby's wingers for most of the night. "He's extremely fast, and he's going to get stronger and get better and better as he gets a feel for the game. But he makes plays a lot of guys can't make."

Crosby had one assist, while defenseman Sergei Gonchar led the team with one goal and two assists. Recchi and Ziggy Palffy each had a goal and an assist, and Mario Lemieux had two assists. (Thanks to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review for the heads up.)

BTW, be on the lookout for EA Sports new "Hockey's Back" commercial with the babe being stalked by the Leafs' goalie. Classic. (Too bad it couldn't be Cujo. Get it? Scaaaaary!)