2016 Stanley Cup Final: San Jose Sharks VS Pittsburgh Penguins

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Craig Custance
Craig Custance – Verified account ‏@CraigCustance

Logan Couture says Crosby wins offensive zone faceoffs so cleanly because he cheats. Says he gets away with it because of who he is.

Yikes! That's sour grapes.

Gotta say Couture doesn't come out looking great with this kind of comment.

I am a little tired of the Crosby-preferential-treatment talk as well. It has literally no merit.

[wittynickname]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

Not surprising to see Sid at the centre of everything for the Pens.

Winning face-offs all night, then a clean win to set up Letang to Sheary, game over.

Best player in the world.

Sheary said post-game that it was a set play that Sid had drawn up right before they went on the ice. He even told Letang to look for Sheary on that spot on the ice. He absolutely scripted that play, faceoff to goal. He is a man possessed right now, I'm not sure anyone else on the ice wants it as much as he does.

I'm not sure what exactly Sullivan did, but his effect on Sidney Crosby alone is remarkable. He's getting crosschecked and his helmet knocked off and he doesn't retaliate, he doesn't even look to see who it is. He's never been that disciplined. Crosby is playing a textbook 200 ft game right now and it's pretty incredible to watch.

[Dr. Doom]

The Sharks are having a hard time matching their speed.
With Murray holding the fort as he is this isn't what I expected could it be a short final?

[activeStick]

It's going to be tough for the Sharks to come back being down 2-0. I know they say you aren't really out until you lose a game at home but they'd be in a better situation if they got the split (captain obvious).

The good news is that the scores in both games were as close as they could be.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

Yikes! That's sour grapes.

Gotta say Couture doesn't come out looking great with this kind of comment.

I am a little tired of the Crosby-preferential-treatment talk as well. It has literally no merit.

There's probably a level of truth to it coming from a guy like Couture though...

[Cecil Terwilliger]

While I'm cheering for the Pens, I'm not counting out SJ. They've lost two close games late. Regardless of the fact that they've been outclassed for the balance of the play in he last two games I'm not counting them out. The shark tank is gonna be nuts for game 3 and if they win then game 4.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by activeStick

There's probably a level of truth to it coming from a guy like Couture though...

No, there isn't. He needs to shut up and go hire Adam Oates or something. That guy cheated harder than any other center in recent memory and we remember him as one of the greatest face off guys in the NHL.

[blender]

I think San Jose will look much better at home. The last change will expose Pittsburgh's D. Still, Crosby = Advantage Pens. It is hard to argue against him as the best player in the world right now.

[midniteowl]

YAY......Pens win!!!!

[FireGilbert]

The Sharks were lucky to be in the game and if things don't change drastically for them at home this will be a sweep.

First time in over 20 years an Eastern team is dominating the cup finals.

[savemedrzaius]

Originally Posted by wittynickname

Sheary said post-game that it was a set play that Sid had drawn up right before they went on the ice. He even told Letang to look for Sheary on that spot on the ice. He absolutely scripted that play, faceoff to goal. He is a man possessed right now, I'm not sure anyone else on the ice wants it as much as he does.

I'm not sure what exactly Sullivan did, but his effect on Sidney Crosby alone is remarkable. He's getting crosschecked and his helmet knocked off and he doesn't retaliate, he doesn't even look to see who it is. He's never been that disciplined. Crosby is playing a textbook 200 ft game right now and it's pretty incredible to watch.

In the 3rd period on the CBC feed they showed how Thornton has really been going after him all serious. There was one point when Thornton threw a haymaker to the side of his head and Crosby had no reaction. He's a robot, but it made me like him a little more and Thornton a little less.

[Tinordi]

Damn, I would like to see Thornton win it all what for all the crap he's taken in his career about not being able to "win it all."

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Logan Couture is a whining bitch imo.

Every great center cheats. They don't get caught and win because they cheat better than you.

Come on dude. You are a Canucks fan. There's never been a more whiny bitch in the playoffs than Pat Quinn. It's like I can still hear him whining in between games how Gary Roberts was running through Kirk McLean like he was a turnstile. This is all about getting an edge and hoping to influence the officials.

[Poe969]

Sorry, I agree with Blaster here...Couture needs to shut his mouth and find a way to win, not complain. Comments like this make him, the team and even the refs look bad. Saying that the refs are favoring the other team isn't a good way to get them on your side. He should instead be watching tapes of every face off Crosby takes and try to emulate what he does because it's clearly working.

I hate when losing teams complain after games.

[Flaming Choy]

Can someone explain to me what "cheating" on the faceoff means exactly? Stick too close to the center (ahead of the dashes)? Skates too close?

[Hockeyguy15]

So it's ok for Crosby to cheat on draws, but it's not ok to call him out on it?

This is really no different than what Crosby is doing, and is all part of the game. Coaches makes comments in the media all the time about not getting calls and such, this is the exact same thing.

I'm fine with Crosby cheating on draws, and I'm fine with the Sharks trying to get him kicked out of the circle. Both teams trying to gain an advantage.

Side note: There is nothing more annoying than taking a draw and having the other guy trying to time it and knock it out of the air.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Flaming Choy

Can someone explain to me what "cheating" on the faceoff means exactly? Stick too close to the center (ahead of the dashes)? Skates too close?

In this case he is trying to time it so he doesn't have his stick on the ice, that way he can knock it out of the air before the other guy has a chance to tie up his stick or get his stick on the puck.

[Robbob]

Kind of funny that a comment like that from a player comes across as whining, but gamesmanship from a coach. He shouldn't have said anything because it shows they are in their heads. I will give them the benefit of doubt, but i think the sharks of old are starting to show. It will be interesting to see what sharks team shows up in game three.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

So it's ok for Crosby to cheat on draws, but it's not ok to call him out on it?

This is really no different than what Crosby is doing, and is all part of the game. Coaches makes comments in the media all the time about not getting calls and such, this is the exact same thing.

I'm fine with Crosby cheating on draws, and I'm fine with the Sharks trying to get him kicked out of the circle. Both teams trying to gain an advantage.

Side note: There is nothing more annoying than taking a draw and having the other guy trying to time it and knock it out of the air.

It's fine to call him out on it but do it in a more "tasteful" way. Saying "he gets away with it because of who he is" is just whining. If he would have said something about how good he is at cheating or timing it so he doesn't have to have his stick down or something like that, it sounds a lot better. That way you're saying "HE CHEATS" without pouting. I agree with saying something about it but the optics of how you go about it are pretty important.

[CroFlames]

You can't legally knock it out of the air. The puck has to hit the ice before you contact it with your hockey utensil.

Luckily, linesmen whip it at the ice and don't just drop it.