SAN JOSE, Calif. – Logan Couture didn’t back off his Game 2 postgame claim that the Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby cheats in the faceoff circle. Instead, he admitted he cheated, too.
“Everyone cheats on faceoffs,” the San Jose Sharks center said. “I cheat. Jumbo (Thornton) cheats. That’s how you try and win draw. (Crosby’s) one of the best at it, and he wins a lot of faceoffs.”
Crosby said former Detroit Red Wings center Kris Draper was one of the toughest faceoff artists he ever faced, and Draper told USA TODAY Sports he and Crosby cheated against each other.
“I believe you have to anticipate the drop of the puck, which is probably a polite form of cheating,” Draper said.
Crosby said Draper was strong on his stick. “He had done it for so long, especially when I was playing against him,” Crosby said. “I felt like he just always found a way. He didn’t do the same thing every time. You were allowed to use your hands, too, so he always had his hand in there and scooped it up. He was really crafty.”
When you faced Draper, Crosby said, you knew it would be a war for the puck. “He took it really seriously,” Crosby said.
The same can be said about Crosby, who works after practice on faceoffs. Crosby’s faceoff percentage is 52.7% in the postseason. The Sharks’ team faceoff percentage is 46.7%.
Couture denied he was trying to send a message to officials about keeping an eye on Crosby.
“Not at all,” Couture said. “These guys are the best in the world at what they do. I’ve got no complaints with the officials. Throughout these playoffs, they’ve been very, very good."
Draper said what he remembered about Crosby was that he had a very quick stick, was strong on his stick and good using his feet.
“Faceoffs are so important,” Draper said. “I wanted Sid to have to spend some of his shift without the puck. I wanted to make him work for the puck.”
Crosby’s reaction to what Couture said? “I didn’t expect that one,” he said.
Couture’s allegation came after Draper’s 17th winning draw of the game led to the game-winning goal. “Probably not a coincidence there,” he said.
Crosby said there was not much difference between the good faceoff men in the NHL. Both he and Draper said it was the winger’s skill getting the puck after a draw that sometimes helps your faceoff percentage.
When it comes to faceoff tricks, Crosby said, “We all do the same thing.”
