from Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,

Four rounds. Sixteen wins.

That's what it takes to claim the one and only Stanley Cup. And it's going to take something no Penguins coach has been able to coax from Sidney Crosby.

It's going to require Sullivan to steer Crosby to his Mario Moment.

The Cup. The Smythe. A double-layer of dominance that has eluded the Face of the NHL.

That's the recipe. It's also cake and the icing, and it's there for the devouring given the wide-open feel to the Stanley Cup playoffs that open this week. Among the contenders, the Penguins look like the best team at the right time.

So it's up to Sullivan not to screw it up.

Wait, what?

This is Pittsburgh. Sullivan should know if the Penguins lose, Pittsburghers will blame the goalie first and the coach second — or the goalie and coach first, together.

It's not just the hockey team that protects the star scorers around here.

read on