Predators try to undermine Crosby, Pens
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — P.K. Subban says ask the Pittsburgh Penguins if he is getting under their skin.
The All-Star defenseman only knows he apparently needs to freshen his breath on the ice and loves the challenge of helping shut down Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
And he loves gamesmanship.
Crosby isn’t in the mood to play if it doesn’t involve his stick and a puck. No, the Pittsburgh captain insists he did not complain about Subban’s breath.
“He likes the attention and things like that so I mean if he wants to make stuff up … what can I do?” Crosby said Sunday.
The Stanley Cup Final has bad blood brewing, and the best-of-seven series for the NHL championship has the makings of becoming a battle royale. Saturday night, Nashville scored five consecutive goals in a 5-1 rout.
Now the Predators want to tie it in Game 4 on Monday night. They are 8-1 at home this postseason, and Subban made it clear he expects Nashville fans to find a way to crank up the volume.
“I know there’ll be a lot more energy, if you can imagine that … which will be pretty awesome,” Subban said.
The Penguins’ frustrations boiled over late Saturday night as Pittsburgh racked up 10 penalties for 44 minutes.
Crosby has yet to score in this series, and he and Evgeni Malkin were held without a shot Saturday night in the same game for the first time.
Shots hard to come by
It’s the fifth time Crosby, with 160 career playoff points and 23 points this postseason, had been held without a shot and third this spring. It was the eighth time Malkin, with his NHL-best 26 points this postseason, was held without a shot. Malkin hasn’t gone two games without a shot in the same postseason since his rookie year; Washington limited Crosby on April 29 and May 1.
“We had chances,” Crosby said. “We just got to hit the net. They blocked some. I think it’s just a matter of winning those battles too and finding ways to get to the net. You got to hit the net, so let’s start there.”
Sullivan confident
Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said Crosby and Malkin command a lot of attention, and he doesn’t want to interfere with their instincts about when to pass or shoot.
“Their numbers speak for themselves,” Sullivan said. “They’ve produced consistently for this team all year long and throughout the course of these playoffs. There’s no doubt that we believe they will continue that.”
The Predators have outshot the Penguins in each game, with Pittsburgh taking a 2-0 series lead with quick scoring bursts.
They also have smothered the NHL’s best scoring team even when the Pens have the man advantage, allowing just four shots in 13 penalties killed. Pittsburgh has only one power-play goal and was 0-of-3 with the man advantage in Game 4, and Malkin said he has little room.
“I have puck like one second, they jump to me,” Malkin said.