San Jose has done a good job of limiting Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby.
SAN JOSE – The Sharks’ defensemen have talked about time and space so often lately, you’d think they’re discussing elementary physics, not the best hockey player on the planet.
But containing Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby has been, to an extent, a scientific exercise, with Marc-Edouard Vlasic leading the experiment.
“Time and space is huge,’’ defenseman Brenden Dillon said Saturday. “You give a guy with speed more space, and he’s going to be a better player. You give a guy who’s good with his stick more time, and he’s going to be a better player.
“Marc-Edouard is able to disrupt that. That’s a reason he’s one of the best in the league.’’
Vlasic, who smothered several of the top scorers in the NHL during the Sharks’ run to the Stanley Cup Final, including St. Louis’ Vladimir Tarasenko, has saved his best performance for last.
Crosby has no goals and just two assists through five games. Moreover, his ability to control the action without scoring has been inconsistent.
Often matched against Vlasic, his Canadian Olympic teammate, Crosby managed just two shots in Game 5.
Yes, the rest of the Penguins mustered 44, but only two resulted in goals — hence the Sharks’ plan to limit Crosby’s chances and place the burden on his teammates.
“It’s a tall order to shut him down,’’ said Justin Braun, who combines with Vlasic to form the Sharks’ top defensive pairing.
“He’s still made a lot of plays and created a lot of chances. It’s a lot of work, but Marc does a great job getting his stick on the puck and staying in (Crosby’s) face after the whistle.”
At the end of the Sharks series-saving Game 5 victory, Crosby tussled with Vlasic, the first sign of frustration from the Penguins’ star. Whether the outburst was rooted in Vlasic’s defense or the Penguins’ inability to convert scoring chances — some set up by Crosby’s deft passes — only he knows.
“You look upon the responsibility from both sides,’’ Crosby said. “Offensively, you want to create. Defensively, he wants to shut us down. We both take the responsibility pretty heavy. It’s to be expected. It’s been competitive.”
The Sharks will have the added benefit in Game 6 of the last-change option allotted to the home team. When Vlasic and Braun see Crosby jumping over the boards, they’ll follow him onto the ice.
“(Braun) and myself got into a rhythm, the last game,’’ Vlasic said. “The last change helps even more.’’