It took Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby 36 seconds in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final to remind us that he can take command over an NHL playoff game like no other.
PITTSBURGH – It took Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby 36 seconds in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final to remind us that he can take command over an NHL playoff game like no other.
A burst of speed. Splitting defensemen Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis. A shot clanging off the post. A penalty called. A resulting power play goal. The Penguins were quickly flying toward a 6-0 win against the Nashville Predators, which leaves the Penguins one win short of becoming the first team in 19 years to win back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.
“He is one of those unique players who has a sense to know when it’s time to raise their level, ” Penguins center Matt Cullen said. “He’s one of the very few who can raise his level that high.”
Crosby assisted on the resulting power play goal from defenseman Justin Schultz at 1: 31 of first period. He finished with three assists to give him seven points in the series.
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It was the 56th multiple-point playoff game of Crosby’s career, tying him for fourth on the all-time list behind Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Jari Kurri.
“A lot of things he does you don’ t think are possible, ” Schultz said. “He’s so talented. He creates so much. He was flying tonight.”
Although the best-of-seven series had been tied 2-2, this felt like a must-win situation for the Penguins. The Predators had looked sharp in two games in Nashville and goalie Pekka Rinne’s confidence seemed to be soaring. The Predators are 9-1 in Nashville this postseason, and it wasn’ t difficult to project that a Predators’ win in Pittsburgh could be followed by a Cup-clinching in Nashville on Sunday.
Crosby had other ideas.
“I don’ t know that I’ ve been around an athlete – not just a hockey player – who is as driven as Sid is, ” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.
Crosby played gritty throughout the game, like when he became tangled behind the net and pushed P. K. Subban’s face into the ice.
“He lost his stick and he was doing some UFC move on my foot, ” Crosby said. “I don’ t know what he was trying to do with my ankle.”
He said his move to push down Subban was about trying to remove himself from Subban’s clutches
“I was in some kind of lock he had going on – I don’ t know what it was, ” Crosby said.
Later, Crosby accidentally threw a water bottle on the ice and apologized to the referee. “I made a gesture and it came flying out of my hand, ” Crosby said.
Crosby has impressive numbers to be sure, but his legacy will be about winning when his career is over. He has won championships at every level, and owns a resume filled with exceptional performances in important games.
After this game, Crosby is certainly in the hunt, along with Evgeni Malkin and Jake Guentzel, for the Conn Smythe Trophy if the Penguins win the Stanley Cup.
“You can see his desire in his day-to-day approach, ” Sullivan said. “What I’ ve grown to admire and respect, is not that he’s a talented player because there are a lot talented players. He has such a drive to be the best and he’s willing to do what it takes.”
Sullivan said his habits are part of why teammates look up to Crosby.
“He controls his diet. He lives the right way, ” Sullivan said. “His off-ice habits are exceptional. He sets such an example for on how to control what you can to give yourself every chance to be successful.”
Crosby’s first shift put the Predators on their heels.
“I think that’s an indication of his leadership and will to win, ” Sullivan said.
The Penguins’ advantage over the Predators is their skilled players, and their stars were aligned in Game 4. Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel combined for eight points, one more point than the trio has generated in the four previous games.
On Wednesday, Malkin had called Kessel’s shot, saying he believed Kessel was ready to emerge from his slump. The Penguins needed a strong game from goalie Matt Murray and he made 24 saves for his second shutout of this postseason.
“As far as our team’s overall game, this was, hands down, the best game we’ ve played in the series to this point, ” Sullivan said.
Now the Penguins have to return to Nashville where they’ve managed to score only two goals in two games. But the Penguins believe they started to figure out how they need to play in Game 4. Then Crosby gave them another boost in Game 5. They expect him to do the same in Game 6 because that’s his history.
