Maybe it was an attempt to plant a seed in the minds of the linesman moving forward.
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Sharks center Logan Couture had a different explanation.
But while there are elements of Crosby’s tactics that were fair to question, Couture can’t be serious that cheating is the reason the Sharks lost Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, 2-1, in overtime and fell into a two games to none hole heading back west.
After Crosby won the faceoff to Letang, the Penguins defenseman faked a shot on Couture, opening up Sheary between the circles.
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Sidney Crosby enters the faceoff circle with a plan every time, well aware it will nearly certainly evaporate once the puck smacks the ice. Crosby wins draws so cleanly because “he cheats and he gets away with it”, Couture said.
“It’s the playoffs. I mean, it’s going to be tight”, added captain Sidney Crosby. “He’s said he’s going to win it back and “Tanger” (Letang) is going to find me in the soft area there”.
The game-winning goal came from rookie Conor Sheary on a dead-on shot from the zone that hit the upper right-hand side of the goal.
That was true once again Wednesday night in the Penguins’ 2-1 overtime win.
“We’ve done a lot of kind of one-timers and quick shots from the point, so we knew they’d be coming hard”, Crosby said. I know our players recognize the effort he’s putting in.
Still, you have to wonder what awaits the Penguins as the series heads to the Shark Tank. For reference, the best faceoff percentage over the full regular season belongs to Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks at 58.6 percent. “It’s one of those things – guys have to execute, you have to make the pass”.
Sidney Crosby only has two assists in two games, but his play has been anything but pedestrian this series. That’s exactly what they did.
“These are two pretty good hockey teams going at it”, said Sullivan.
Call me insane, but I’m not sure how that constitutes as cheating. They’re doing the same thing that our guys are doing. “We’re playing good right now, but I still think we need to get it up another level to win there”.
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Couture’s comments provide an interesting storyline to follow through the remainder of the Finals, but San Jose has to be hoping that Couture will start making more noise on the ice and stay quiet off it in the near future. They’re going to get some scoring chances.
