Penguins coach Mike Sullivan on Sidney Crosby, speed game (Podcast)

(Listen to the full interview above, beginning at the 23:30 mark.)

Mike Sullivan has coached the Pittsburgh Penguins into second place in the Metro Division and, potentially, himself into the Jack Adams conversation for their resurgence after being hired 44 games ago.

He joined us on Marek Vs. Wyshynski on Monday to discuss that success, and two factors behind it: Their team speed and Sidney Crosby.

On the speed of the Penguins, Sullivan credited some player acquisitions made by GM Jim Rutherford, including Trevor Daley and Carl Hagelin.

“With some of that additions Jim has made, it’s added to that speed factor we’ve tried to create,” he said. “We believe our competitive advantage is our speed.”

After taking over from Mike Johnston, Sullivan said his staff simplified the Penguins’ system, to play through the neutral zone faster. But he’s also giving his faster players some leeway to “fly the zone” a little bit defensively.

“We don’t want to play a high-risk game, but we want to be a team that plays a calculated game,” he said. “We think it helps us play that speed game we want to play.”

As far as Crosby, who has 49 points in his last 35 games, Sullivan said the captain’s been a leader.

“I can’t really speak on behalf of what took place before I got here, but what I can tell you is what I’ve witnessed since I’ve been here, which is a Sidney Crosby playing with all kinds of passion and determination. I think when he’s invested emotionally into the game – and this is something I’ve talked to Sid on a number of occasions about – when he’s at his best, he’s emotionally invested in what what’s going on. When he’s all in like that, he’s one of the top players in the world, if not the top player,” said Sullivan.

“It really is a credit to him on how hard he works. But he’s all-in right now. He’s determined to lead this team the right way.”

Also on MvsW today:

- Twitter turns 10, and we look at 10 years of hockey Twitter.

- The playoff races in the East and West.

- Boaty McBoatface.

- Our MvsW Live Show on Wednesday in Toronto.

- News and notes from around the NHL.

The Marek vs. Wyshynski Podcast is hosted by Jeff Marek of Sportsnet and Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo Sports, breaking down the NHL on a (somewhat) daily basis with their particular brand of whimsy and with guest voices from around the hockey world. MvsW streams live while its being recorded: LISTEN HERE! [And if that doesn't work, try here.]

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