In just three seasons, the 20-year-old captain has collected some impressive statistics and awards, including the Hart Trophy as NHL most valuable player.

"He matured . . . and is a better player than before," Flyers coach John Stevens said yesterday. "He's worked hard to get better. He was a great player last year.

"You've got to admire how he handled himself everywhere he [went] this year. He went to [Western] Canada this year, and they had a press conference in every town, and he still had to get ready to play. And he was one of the best players every night."

Crosby already is the youngest captain in NHL history. Now, he could be the youngest to get the "C" and lead his team to a Stanley Cup in the same season.

It wasn't that long ago that Crosby was vilified by the Flyers for yapping at them, whining to officials, and taking the occasional dive to draw a penalty.

None of that went unnoticed by Flyers center Mike Richards, who played with Crosby on Team Canada and likely will match up with him Friday night when the Eastern Conference finals begin in Pittsburgh. They already have had a few battles.

"You see him and how mature he is getting," Richards said. "The first year, there [was] criticism of how he handled himself on the ice. As the second year went on, he got better. Now, he handles himself real well on the ice. He respects everyone. He gets along with the referees."

Richards said Crosby had to respect the players who came before him before getting respect.

"As a young player, you have no respect from other players because you have not earned it yet," Richards said. "I don't think a rookie should be chirping at seasoned veterans."

Crosby did some chirping his rookie season in a game Nov. 19 in Pittsburgh that the Flyers won, 6-3. Crosby called out Peter Forsberg, who was stunned at the rookie's response after Forsberg suggested he was far too talented to take a dive.

Crosby has just two goals in the playoffs, but he has 12 assists. What makes the Penguins really tough is that high-scoring Evgeni Malkin plays on a different line, giving the Penguins a dynamic 1-2 punch.

Malkin has elevated his play considerably this season, gaining responsibility when Crosby was sidelined with a severe high-ankle sprain in the second half of the regular season.

The Russian center exploded for 47 goals and 106 points, giving Washington's Alexander Ovechkin genuine competition for the Hart Trophy, which has not been announced. Malkin has six goals and eight assists in the playoffs.

Kimmo Timonen likely will draw the defensive assignment on Malkin, while Derian Hatcher will be assigned to Crosby. Timonen has drawn Ovechkin and Saku Koivu in the previous two series. Who is hardest to defend, Crosby, Malkin or Ovechkin?

"To me, right now, Malkin is the best player of those three," Timonen said. "Ovechkin is a little different player than Crosby and Malkin. Ovechkin is more of a goal scorer than a playmaker. These two guys are playmakers who can score. . . . Malkin plays pretty hard. You hit that guy, and he keeps going."

Jeff Carter's line figures to go against Malkin's unit.

Stevens assigned each player to scout a specific Penguin. The assignments were based on whether they will match up in the series - Crosby vs. Richards and Malkin vs. Carter, for example - or whether they knew the opponent well from international play or as a teammate somewhere else.

The idea came from coach Joel Quenneville, for whom Stevens played at Springfield in the American Hockey League.

"I thought, as a player, it was good," Stevens said. "It makes for some good humor, gets guys to interact, and comes out as a lot of fun and doesn't take time to do it. You usually end up learning more about the other team than you might have already known.

"Some of these guys have played together and know each other well. Some have played in world junior tournaments or grown up together. So, it's something fun we do, and it's got value as well."

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