Brad Richardson and Nick Cousins are nothing if not remarkably self-aware.



Both quickly try to pawn the role of team instigator — or, as both were willing to admit, “master shit-disturber” — on the other. But when pressed, they admitted they play the same role of needling the opposition, just doing so in different ways.



Cousins plays the verbal antagonist, and he does it well.



The former Philadelphia Flyers third-round draft selection can be seen even from the eagle-eye views in the press box, constantly skating through groups of opposing jerseys or gliding by their bench with his mouth running. He’s almost always chirping the other team, making every comment under the sun to throw the other team off their game.



Richardson is much quieter about it, but employs the same tactic of death by a thousand cuts when it comes to his opponent’s focus.



“I like to do little things in the face-off circle,”...