When the Pittsburgh Penguins are at their best, they’re playing without fear and exhibiting fearful speed.
The San Jose Sharks showed signs of adjusting to their strengths in Game 3, but the Penguins aren’t panicking as Game 4 rapidly approaches.
San Jose might be leveraging size advantages as they try to hem the Penguins in their own zone, yet that’s far from new for this team, as they told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“Teams have been trying to out-muscle us, trying to intimidate us, for the last three months,” Ben Lovejoy said on Sunday.
“The Rangers did it. Washington did it. … We’re a team that prides ourselves on being brave.”
It’s one thing to handle hits against a bigger Sharks team. The key is for the Penguins to get back to the rapid transition game that plays to their strengths.
Sullivan: They established strong pinches on the walls. We need to handle those better coming out of our end zone -SK
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) June 6, 2016
Sullivan: The margin for error is small. A lot 1-goal games. I like the way our team is playing. Still on the attack, no defensive shell -SK
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) June 6, 2016
So, the Penguins aren’t being bullied into changing their ways, but can they adjust to the Sharks’ adjustments? We’ll find out in Game 4.
For a little more from Mike Sullivan, check out his comments to the press before tonight’s contest.