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DETROIT – Following a hard check from Detroit Red Wings defenseman Derek Meech, Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby quickly retaliated to the rough play by telling his dad how he thought Meech illegally checked him.

“I told him if he did anything I would tell dad, and that was an illegal cross-check” recalled Crosby, who was confused when Meech addressed him as nothing but a long string of inappropriate words. “Sticks and stones I always say.”

Crosby’s father, Troy Crosby, immediately consoled his son, reminding him to keep his head up and assuring the 12-year-old Penguins captain he would have a talk with the officials about it.

“Sidney is still adjusting to the NHL,” said Troy Crosby, who silently mouthed “You can do it” to his son from a club-level suite. “He’s a sensitive kid and sometimes he can’t understand why all the other players seem so mean. I think it helped to have his mother here to kiss the bruise on his knee.”

Troy Crosby sent a message to officials at the end of the first period asking them to say a few nice things to his son just so he knows they’re watching out for him.

“Is that Chris Chelios? I have to get his autograph,” added the young Crosby. “My dad loved that guy when he was growing up.”