May 5, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) is hit by New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal (18) in front of Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) during the first period of game three of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA Today Sports.
ODAY Sports
Marc Staal has viciously and repeatedly targeted Sidney Crosby’s head over the last two games of the playoff series between the Penguins and Rangers.
What should the Penguins do about it tonight, when the teams meet in Game 5 at Consol Energy Center?
Nothing. Just win.
The Penguins can best halt Staal’s brutality by eliminating the Rangers.
With most teams, the situation would call for some sort of revenge, but the Penguins aren’t good at that. They collapse amid chaos. Dig a hole emotionally. Right now, the Rangers are in the hole. Bury them.
The Penguins’ immaturity has too often boiled over vs. the Rangers. New York’s putrid power play has eliminated accountability. Chris Kunitz has taken six minors in the last seven games, many of them ill-advised.
The Rangers’ power play hasn't scored in its last 36 chances, including 0 for 15 in this series. Brandon Sutter’s short-handed goal Wednesday was apocalyptic. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist poked the puck away from a hard-charging Brian Gibbons, but three Rangers stood idly by while Sutter netted the loose puck. Lundqvist, normally unflappable, smashed his stick on the crossbar.
The Rangers are dead. Don’t poke the bear. Don’t disrupt your own team.
Staal’s torment of Crosby is surprising considering that both have had concussion problems. You’d think Staal might have more respect, if not sympathy.
It’s also surprising that the referees haven’t assessed Staal any penalties for bludgeoning Crosby. The NHL department of player safety has not reviewed. Game 3 saw Staal cross-check Crosby in the neck and slash him in the head.
Crosby is the face of the NHL, hockey’s bread and butter. He moves the needle. Don’t provide preferential treatment. Just protect him under the auspices of the rulebook. Protect any player, and every player, but especially Crosby.
The situation reflects the classic Canadian hockey mentality. The referees shouldn’t decide the game. You’ve got to pay a price out there. Utter stupidity.
Staal never sold a ticket, or got a viewer to turn on a TV. Crosby excels at both. He’s one of the few hockey players to do so. Ever.
The notion that Staal and Crosby matter equally is silly. The notion that penalties should be ignored to close the gap between Staal and Crosby is sillier still. Staal gains an unfair edge if he’s allowed to foul Crosby. Stop him. Don’t hurt him.
If Crosby gets injured and something should be called but isn’t, the NHL looks dumb.
At least that’s nothing the NHL isn’t used to.
There’s little honor in hockey. There’s certainly zero big-picture mentality.
The Penguins and Crosby just have to get through this series. The quicker, the better. Crosby is coming out of his funk. He got a goal in Game 3, two assists in Game 4. Linemate Evgeni Malkin is dominating and spurring Crosby to do the same. Bigger and better is starting to seem possible, perhaps even likely.
The playoffs are about survival.
For Crosby, that’s true – in the literal sense – until the Rangers are eliminated. As aggressive as some teams can be, the Rangers are the first team to ever consistently target Crosby’s head over a prolonged period.
No one will stop it. So Crosby just has to stand it.
Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).
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