http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Thursday, May 21, 2009
It's gotten to the point where Sidney Crosby is equally capable of influencing playoff games whether he scores a goal or not.
Crosby's fingerprints were all over the Penguins' 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final, even though he was credited with just one assist.
The Penguins' Sidney Crosby defends against the Hurricanes' Tim Gleason in game 1 at Mellon Arena.
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review file
If he's able to help dictate tempo and territorial play as effectively tonight in Game 2, the Penguins' chances of holding serve before the series shifts to Mayberry will improve dramatically.
Score a goal?
Crosby didn't even register a shot on goal through two periods and finished with just two.
But the Penguins never trailed in grabbing a 1-0 series lead.
Against the Washington Capitals, it was all about goal scoring, and Crosby was masterful in matching the incomparable Alex Ovechkin. It was as if Crosby sensed Ovechkin was going to get his goals no matter what, and that Ovechkin's anticipated output could be neutralized by attacking a vulnerable Washington defense by going relentlessly to the net.
Against the Hurricanes, it's about time in the offensive zone and keeping the puck away from Carolina, which would like nothing better than to get it into the Penguins' end and keep it there.
Crosby isn't going to get eight goals again in this series, not against Cam Ward.
But he can do the next best thing by helping to ensure that a relatively limited Penguins' output holds up as just enough against whatever the Hurricanes can generate.
That dynamic was on display in Game 1, much to the delight of Penguins coach Dan Bylsma.
He identified the "tell-tale sign" of Crosby's game as a "signature on the first period."
Bylsma was referring to a dump-and-chase executed by Crosby that generated "two or three good shifts in a row" and ultimately resulted in a 2-0 Penguins' lead 1:24 after Miroslav Satan had opened the scoring.
"If there's one thing we've talked about as his answer to the scrutiny about getting goals, (it's) his decisions and how he's played without the puck and how he's played a team game," Bylsma said. "Chipping the puck in, going on the forecheck, getting hit and continuing what we're trying to accomplish as a team, he did that again (Monday) night in a lot of different areas.
"He continues to set an example for his line and for our team. And that's the way we need to play if we're going to have success."
Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice noticed the line of Crosby, Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin didn't score a goal in Game 1.
But Maurice also noticed that his second line of Matt Cullen, Chad LaRose and Erik Cole didn't get one when they were on the ice against Crosby's line, which they were much of the time.
Maurice lauded Crosby's ability to "read" the game, particularly after the Penguins had established a two-goal, first-period lead.
"Had it been 2-0 Hurricanes," Maurice said, "you would have seen his number a lot more in front of our net."
Instead, Crosby contributed with a subtle yet critical emphasis on puck possession and defense.
"It's mostly just work," Maurice said. "I wouldn't say it's an underrated strength (of Crosby's). People in the game understand that's what separates him from most players."
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