P K Subban patrols the ice during Game 2 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final
Chapter 1 ONE OF A KIND He’s too showy Too confident He falls to the ice too quickly trying to draw a penalty He talks too much Celebrates too much He’s a hockey villain P K Subban has heard all the criticisms He’s the player that fans will boo all night long when he’s competing against their team But he’s also the guy fans love when he’s playing in his home arena This theme was on full display in June 2017 when Subban and the Nashville Predators faced the Pittsburgh Penguins Subban was playing in the Stanley Cup Final hockey’s biggest stage for the first time in his career The Penguins won the first two games to take a 2 0 lead in the best-of-seven series But in Game 3 the Predators struck back Subban smothered Penguins star Sidney Crosby keeping him without a shot Nashville routed Pittsburgh 5 1 in that game cutting the Penguins lead to 2 1 Before the players left the ice Subban skated near
Crosby and yelled at him Crosby yelled back When reporters asked about what they said to each other Subban joked that Crosby complained about his breath Subban drew laughs when he told the story When guys chirp after a game or during a game it’s usually about your game or something personal Subban said But he went on to tell me that my breath smelled bad I really don’t understand why because I used Listerine before the game I thought my breath smelled great At the end of the day we’re going to take the win and move on Reporters crowded around Crosby in the Penguins locker room eager to hear his take on Subban’s comments However Crosby kept his answer short He likes the attention and things like that Crosby said If he wants to make stuff up what can I do Part of Subban’s approach was simple he wanted to get Crosby thinking about him and not his own game Every time he’s on the ice I’m going to be in his face And he’s not going to like it Subban said Even so Crosby claimed not to notice Subban I haven’t seen P K much We haven’t been in their zone probably enough Crosby said But I don’t feel like every time I’m out there P K s out there
Subban and Penguins star Sidney Crosby exchange a few words after Game 3 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final Nashville won Game 4 to even up the Stanley Cup Final at two games apiece But in Game 5 Crosby got his payback Late in the first period Subban brought the puck up the ice and passed it toward the front of the Penguins net Then he tangled with Crosby behind the net Subban grabbed Crosby’s stick and the men hit the
