http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
DETROIT — The statistics indicate Detroit center Henrik Zetterberg, the 2008 playoffs MVP, has been unusually quiet in this Stanley Cup Final.
His success can be better measured on the Penguins' score sheets — more specifically, by looking at captain Sidney Crosby's numbers.
Zetterberg has silenced Crosby through the first two games of this Final.
The Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg ties up the Penguins' Sidney Crosby in front of goaltender Chris Osgood during the third period in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final this past weekend at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review
"This is his standard right here," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "I believe he has a will tank deeper than anybody I've ever been associated with. As much as all the other attributes he has, to me, that's his greatest one. His drive train is fantastic."
The sixth-year Red Wings center has sacrificed his offensive game to pay more attention to Crosby, who has recorded no points and a minus-1 rating. Zetterberg is a plus-2, proving the emphasis on his defensive game to be well worth it.
The Crosby-Bill Guerin-Chris Kunitz line, which has been one of the most offensively productive units since it was formed in early March, has been shut down this series by the line Zetterberg centers with Johan Franzen and Dan Cleary.
Despite recording just an assist this series, Zetterberg ranks second on the Red Wings this postseason with 19 points and nine goals. The Red Wings' second-leading scorer during the regular season (73 points) understands that Crobsy's Final numbers might be more important than his offensive contributions.
"I think as a centerman, when you're growing up in Sweden that's how you're taught to play," said Zetterberg, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy after sharing the playoffs scoring lead with Crosby last year. "It starts with the good defense and it'll lead to offense. That's one thing I've always been trained to do, and I've been lucky enough to get that role over here, too."
Not many players would consider themselves lucky when given the unpleasant assignment of following Crosby around on the ice, but Zetterberg accepted the role of shadowing the Penguins star without complaint. It's no wonder Zetterberg was the runner-up to teammate Pavel Datsyuk - who has yet to play this series because of a foot injury — for the NHL's Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward.
"You've got different roles and different situations, and this one is for sure a challenge," Zetterberg said. "It's fun, and I'm trying to make the best of it."
Zetterberg is doing an even better job of making Crosby's life miserable these past few days. Slowing Crosby has been no easy task, considering the tear he was on this postseason. Heading into this series, Crosby was tied with teammate Evgeni Malkin for the NHL lead in points (28). He ranked first overall with 14 goals, and was on pace to break the league record for postseason goals set by the Philadelphia Flyers' Reggie Leach, who scored 19 in 1976.
Since recording 12 points in the six games leading up to the Final, with at least a point in every game, Crosby hasn't been able to get going. The Red Wings have Zetterberg to thank for that.
"Hank does the same thing in the playoffs every year: He plays against the other team's best center and does well," Detroit goalie Chris Osgood said. "Hank's been getting his chances and, obviously, Sidney is getting his chances. They're both great players. They both play each other hard. It's good for the league and the fans to see these two go head-to-head, especially in big games like the Finals."
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