Sharks blueliner Vlasic a 'quiet assassin' in Stanley Cup final

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) skates in front of San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic (44) during the third period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, June 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)SAN JOSE — It was sometime near the end of the first period in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final when Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Sidney Crosby became one.

Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain, who had been protecting the puck behind the net, was trying to shake loose the San Jose defender. So Crosby spun left and he spun right; he took a couple of quick, short strides before stopping suddenly and reversing course. With every turn, with…