Line matching against the Pittsburgh Penguins isn't easy.
San Jose Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer has learned as much as he noted Friday that shutting down their rival's superstars has been difficult.
"They have given us matchup problems," said DeBoer. "When you have Kessel, Crosby, and Malkin on three different lines, that's tough."
DeBoer also believes the trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel one-up his Shark's club in another sense.
"All three of those guys make more than anyone on our team," DeBoer said, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.
And he's right:
| Team | Player | 2015-16 Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|
| Penguins | Malkin | $9.5M |
| Penguins | Crosby | $8.7M |
| Penguins | Kessel | $6.8M |
| Sharks | Thornton | $6.75M |
Not to mention the trio has been fairly consistent all playoffs, combining for 20 goals and 51 points.
