Sidney Crosby offers take on Penguins' mix-and-match top line

Over the past two games, top Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby had gotten adjusted to new left winger Jason Zucker. He also has had to make adjustments working with familiar options on the right wing with Patric Hornqvist and Dominik Simon.

The Penguins opened Tuesday’s 2-1 overtime home loss to the Tampa Lighting with Hornqvist on that line but subbed him out with Simon late in the second period. On Friday, Simon virtually played the entire game on the top line.

“Dom really likes to possess the puck down low,” Crosby said. “So I think just trying to support him there. He’s really strong on battles. So you don’t always necessarily have to go support him right away. He’s able to hold guys off and spin and make plays. With (Hornqvist), I think it’s different because he’s just so active in and around the net. He almost forces you to shoot the puck more because of his presence there. You’re probably looking as a shooter a bit more with (Hornqvist) just because he likes being around the net.

“It’s knowing who you’re playing with. You don’t have to really change too much but just knowing the tendencies and trying to play to each other’s strengths.”