Crosby’s drive could be difference for Penguins against plucky Predators

Teams can defend against fast players, big players and skilled players, but how do you scheme against driven players?

That may be the Nashville Predators’ biggest problem as they prepared to play the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final, Game 1 of which took place late Monday night in Pittsburgh.

“Sidney has a drive I don’t think I’ve ever seen anywhere,” Penguins teammate Matt Cullen said. “That ultimately is what has gotten him to the point he is at.”

Crosby has an opportunity to help his Penguins become the first NHL team to win back-to-back titles in 19 years. He has a chance to win his third Stanley Cup title in the salary cap era.

“He can sense where we’re at and he has a real grasp of the history of the game,” Cullen said. “Sid’s a guy who loves the game more than anybody else – and he follows it more closely than anybody. He, more than anybody, understands the position we are in.”

Crosby wants this title badly. It has nothing to do about strengthening his legacy. The Penguins captain has won two Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals, a world championship, a World Cup, a World Junior Championship and multiple individual trophies and honors. Another Stanley Cup doesn’t suddenly vault him past Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe and Mario Lemieux.

Crosby wants this title simply because he loves to win.

“We wanted to get back here, and we knew it would be difficult,” Crosby said. “There would be a lot of obstacles. Now we found a way to get here, it’s up to us to do something with the opportunity.”

Because Crosby won his first title in 2009, and didn’t return to the Stanley Cup Final until 2016 he appreciates the importance of cashing in on your opportunities.

He can’t be sure he will be ever be back the Final. He doesn’t want to squander the opportunity. That’s the motivation that drives him.

Now he plays in a Stanley Cup Final where we will answer the question of whether a quality defense is more important than quality centers.

Some argue the Predators have a goaltending edge because Pekka Rinne boasts eye-catching numbers (a 1.70 goals-against average and .941 save percentage). But Pittsburgh goalie Matt Murray is only a year removed from winning a Stanley Cup. Both teams love their goaltending. It’s hard to see a true edge for either team.

The Predators’ advantage is the fact they seem to have the best defensive corps in the NHL.

The Penguins’ advantage is the fact that they have the best one-two center combination in the league in Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. What makes the advantage more distinct is that Nashville No. 1 center Ryan Johansen is done for the season with an injury.

Veteran checking center Mike Fisher was injured in the conference finals, but he said Sunday he has been cleared to return. The Predators’ other best options to match Crosby and Malkin are Colton Sissons and Calle Jarnkrok, two younger players whose best seasons are still a few years away.

The argument for the Predators is that they have already faced, and conquered, Anaheim’s impressive one-two tandem of Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler.

But those players aren’t Crosby and Malkin, who have combined for 14 goals and 30 assists for 44 points in this postseason.

“We are really fortunate to be on the same team, to be able to lean on each other, to go through certain experiences,” Crosby said. “We went through the language barrier. But after all of this time we have a pretty good understanding of how lucky we are to have this combination.”

The Predators will embrace the committee approach to dealing with these two superstars.

“The strength of our group is how many forwards we have who can step into big roles in big moments,” Ekholm said. “Our first center [Sissons] had a hat trick last game so I don’t feel any discomfort with the situation. I am comfortable with our group.”

Confidence is important. But you can never be too comfortable when facing Crosby and Malkin.