Pretty interesting dynamics at play ahead of tomorrow’s Blue Jackets-Penguins game in Columbus.
The history, and rivalry, between Sidney Crosby and Brandon Dubinsky is pretty well established, and Jackets head coach John Tortorella’s made no mistake about his disdain for Pittsburgh’s “whining.”
Now, Pens tough guy Tom Sestito -- who Tortorella used to coach in Vancouver -- has thrown himself into the mix.
In speaking with subscription-based website DKOnPittsburghSports.com, Sestito spoke about his role protecting Pens captain Sidney Crosby.
That, of course, meant talking about Dubinsky, who’s been a thorn in Crosby’s side for the past several years and, earlier this season, was suspended one game for cross-checking Crosby.
“Definitely,” Sestito said of relishing his role, per the Columbus Dispatch. “If I can deter guys from taking runs at Sid, that’s my job. And if they’re taking runs at him, I’ll take runs at their stars.
“I’ll go after Dubinsky as much as I can.”
The two teams last met on Dec. 28, a game in which Dubinsky fought Eric Fehr. That contest didn’t have the Sestito factor, though -- the journeyman enforcer only signed an NHL deal with the Pens at the start of February, and has played in just two games thus far.