Day: May 2, 2017

Craig Custance ESPN Senior Writer Close Senior NHL writer for ESPN The Magazine Wrote for Atlanta Journal-Constitution Wrote for The Sporting News Follow on Twitter PITTSBURGH — One of the biggest mandates from Mike Sullivan when he took over as coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins last season was to dial down the emotional swings that often distracted the team. Opponents could get in their head. The opponents knew it and, probably, deep down the Penguins knew it too. Sullivan’s message was simple: Just play. Don’t worry about the rest. The Penguins, in his mind, were more talented than any team around. If they removed all the distractions, if they just unshackled themselves from the baggage that

Sidney Crosby lying face-down on the ice is the Penguins’ worst nightmare. Crosby, Pittsburgh’s captain and best player, left Game 3 of his team’s playoff series against Washington after taking a hit to the head from Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen. The Penguins were in Washington’s end of the ice when Niskanen crosschecked Crosby across the face with his stick. Crosby was skating by Washington goaltender Braden Holtby when he turned and faced Niskanen. Niskanen raised his stick and hit Crosby flush. Crosby was on the ice in obvious pain for several minutes before exiting slowly under his own power. Niskanen was given a five-minute major penalty and a 10-minute game misconduct. Crosby entered