
It’s been just a week-and-a-half since the Sharks and Penguins last saw one another when San Jose claimed a 3-1 win over Pittsburgh on Nov. 21 at Consol Energy Center. It was the fifth game of what turned out to be a historic trip for the Sharks, who became just the sixth team in NHL history to sweep a road trip of six games, per Elias.
Sidney Crosby posted one assist and a -2 rating in the defeat, and was asked what he remembered from a Sharks team that should be fresh on his mind.
“They were quick. They were just really aggressive in every aspect,” said the Penguins captain. “Their D joined the play, their [penalty kill] was aggressive, power play. They put a lot of pucks to the net.
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“[We have to] just not get caught watching. That’s not a team you want to be back on your heels against, so just try to initiate things ourselves.”
The Sharks had to rely on goalie Martin Jones early, as the Penguins registered the first seven shots. Pittsburgh outshot the Sharks for the game, 39-29, but coach Mike Johnston noticed the number of shots from Sharks defensemen. Of their 29 attempts, 13 came from blueliners including seven by Brent Burns.
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“We’ve got to make sure we get out on their point shooters. Their defense got a lot of pucks through,” Johnston said. “We’ve got to make sure we take that away.”
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The Sharks are 17-2-3 in their last 22 meetings against the Penguins, including a 2-1 shootout win last season on March 9 in San Jose. Despite that loss, Crosby, who will have new linemates in wingers Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis, would like to see his club replicate the Pens' effort from that game in which they outshot the Sharks 40-30.
“You look back to last year when we played here, I thought [it was] one of our better games of the year,” he said. “I thought we did a lot of good things here and it was a fast-paced game. Hopefully it’s the same.”
The Penguins will play the Kings on Saturday and Ducks on Sunday before concluding a four-game road trip in Colorado on Wednesday, Dec. 9.