Pittsburgh’s depth key to series lead

Penguins could win series at home tonight

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Nine different players have scored for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup final, and Sidney Crosby isn’t one of them.

The fact that the Penguins have raced out to a 3-1 series lead over the San Jose Sharks without a goal from their superstar captain is a testament to their depth. Contributions from every part of the lineup have Pittsburgh on the verge of winning its fourth Stanley Cup — and first since 2009. Game 5 is tonight in Pittsburgh. “It’s been key,” said winger Bryan Rust, “because there’s been nights where it was pretty much pick a name out of a hat and that guy’s gonna step up and he’s going to have a big game.”

Fourteen players have scored at least two goals for the club during the playoffs. Ten players have scored at least four, including rookies Rust (six goals) and Conor Sheary, who’s scored twice in the final.

Though Crosby has been a force at times in the playoffs, it’s been Phil Kessel leading the charge offensively. The 28-year-old set up a pair of goals in Game 4 and leads the Penguins with 10 goals and 21 points.

“Obviously you don’t get many chances like this, so you need to try to be at your best,” he said after practice Wednesday.

His speedy line, which includes Carl Hagelin (15 points) and Nick Bonino (17 points), has turned Pittsburgh into a dangerous threepronged attack. Contain Crosby’s unit and there’s Evgeny Malkin’s line to contend with. Contain that group and Kessel is looming as a threat.

The dynamic has created matchup issues for opponents all spring. The Penguins’ fourth line has also contributed, including Eric Fehr’s third goal in Monday’s 3-1 win.

“We’ve shown that all four of our lines can score and be dangerous,” defenceman Brian Dumoulin said. “It’s tough to match up with.”

The Sharks have employed their top blueline pairing of Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Justin Braun to neutralize Crosby, effective to some degree with home-ice advantage in San Jose. But that leaves either Kessel or Malkin to roam free against the Sharks third pairing of Roman Polak and Brenden Dillon.

The Sharks opted to use that duo against Malkin, who had a goal and assist in Game 4.

Pittsburgh defencemen have also chipped in with goals form Ben Lovejoy and Ian Cole, the latter scoring his first of the post-season Monday night. But it’s Pittsburgh’s defensive play without topfour defender Trevor Daley that’s been most indicative of their depth on the blue-line.

Pittsburgh’s unheralded and mostly inexperienced defence has managed to keep the Sharks in check, holding them to 24.5 shots on average through the first four games while insulating rookie goaltender Matt Murray.

Top Sharks weapons Joe Pavelski (zero points) and Joe Thornton have been mostly neutralized, while Brent Burns, he of 27 goals and 75 points during the regular season, has only a pair of Game 1 assists.

“Obviously when we lost Trevor Daley that’s a big loss and it’s kind of been everybody’s been stepping up,” Rust said.