In Game 6, Penguins hope to draw on experience to help them become champions
Associated Press
Sidney Crosby puts a shot off the left post behind Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne after being held by the Predators鈥� Ryan Ellis during the first period of Game 5 on Thursday, in Pittsburgh. The penalty set up the Penguins first power play and goal. The Penguins won, 6-0. Crosby will look to lead the Penguins to their 5th Stanley Cup tonight in Nashville.
Evgeni Malkin (71) and Sidney Crosby (87) celebrate a goal by Justin Schultz early in the first period of the Penguins' game against the Nashville Predators in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday at PPG Paints Arena.
CRANBERRY TWP. 鈥� When the Penguins step into Bridgestone Arena and attempt to beat the Predators and become Stanley Cup champions once again, they鈥檒l be drawing on experience to inform them.
Some of those experiences are fresher than others, like Games 3 and 4 of the series when the Penguins went 0-2 in Nashville. Though the Penguins liked their effort in Game 4 despite the loss, they鈥檒l be looking to improve this time around in Game 6 on Sunday. Part of that is now firmly knowing what the atmosphere will be like.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a loud building. The big thing is just to talk a lot, and you鈥檝e got to be loud, you鈥檝e got to talk loud, too,鈥� Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to know at all times where your guy鈥檚 at, where everybody is. I think just being on the same page, trusting your partner, trusting your teammates of being in the right spot at the right time.鈥�
The Penguins also will take some lessons from the elimination games they鈥檝e played in this postseason. In the first opportunity the Penguins had a chance to clinch each series, they came up short all three times: Game 4 in Columbus, Game 5 in Washington and Game 6 in Ottawa. The lesson learned is that the Penguins鈥� focus must be heightened to optimum levels.
鈥淲e have to bring our best game. The elimination game is always the most difficult to get. So first and foremost, we have to understand the challenge, and I believe our players do,鈥� Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.
鈥淚 really believe in these types of games when the emotions are high and the stakes are high, it鈥檚 about focus, it鈥檚 about attention to detail, it鈥檚 about effort, it鈥檚 about execution and controlling what you can out there. That鈥檚 where our whole focus is.鈥�
Beyond the less than ideal experiences are the positive moments that the Penguins can draw upon, such as their Game 6 victory in San Jose last season to win the Cup.
鈥淚 think we focused on that game and not everything surrounding it. We just tried to take care of our own game and what we needed to do and kind of let the rest take care of itself,鈥� Sidney Crosby said of the team鈥檚 mentality going into Game 6 last season. 鈥淚 thought we did a really good job at that, and I think our focus is there and I think that we鈥檙e going to give ourselves the best opportunity.鈥�
In the case of less recent experiences, including last season鈥檚 Game 6 victory, Sullivan said the team doesn鈥檛 directly address those formally, such as in team speeches, but rather informally, maybe at dinner or on the plane. Those talks can be especially advantageous to players who haven鈥檛 had those experiences.
鈥淓xperience is the best teacher for all of us,鈥� Sullivan said. 鈥淲hen you go through the types of experiences the players on our team have been able to go through, you can鈥檛 help but learn from them, both the successes and the failures.鈥�
Regardless of the value of those experiences, though, once the game starts, all that matters is executing. The players won鈥檛 be thinking of Game 6 last year as they skate across the ice, but rather the Game 6 happening in front of them. But even in that regard, that 鈥渟tay in the moment鈥� mentality is something the Penguins have learned the value of in the past.
鈥淵ou know they鈥檙e going to be desperate. You expect that, you know that. I think you just try to worry about your game,鈥� Crosby said. 鈥淵ou need to understand what you鈥檙e going to see, but you always have to understand that you need to play your own game.鈥�