Despite being projected by most NHL Insiders to not come anywhere close to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins ignored the doubters and put together one of their best seasons in recent memory, and clinched a postseason berth for the first time since 2022.
And fittingly, they’re matched up against the in-state rival Philadelphia Flyers for what will be their fifth postseason tilt since 2008.
Pittsburgh Penguins team captain Sidney Crosby, who had yet another fantastic season on his way to a first-ballot spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame once his playing days come to a close, recognizes that it’s a special opportunity to continue a classic rivalry.
Pittsburgh Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby Explains What Makes The Rivaly Against The Flyers So Special
While making an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show”, Crosby explained that Pittsburgh’s fast start to the season helped to get some belief going in their dressing room.
“I mean, I think we just, you know, with so many changes in the offseason, we came into camp just short-term, we just wanted to have a good start and get things organized, try to get on track,” Crosby said. “We had a great start that really helped. I think a lot of guys that came in had something to prove for a lot of different reasons. Whether it was a young guy, whether it was somebody getting an opportunity that hadn’t really, guys on one-year deals that wanted to prove themselves, a lot of different things. I think we came together as a group together really quickly and had some success.”
“From there, we got some momentum and started getting some belief. So, of all years, this was a pretty tough one with how competitive it was to get in. It’s a good first step.”
Crosby, who has battled the Flyers numerous times in the regular season and playoffs and become a public enemy in Philadelphia, got a taste of it right off the bat in 2005 during his rookie season.
“I think it was there before I started playing,” he said. “I was told about it and heard about it, but I hadn’t really experienced it. My first game, I got to figure out pretty quick what it was all about. There wasn’t really a feeling-out process there, I think it was everything I expected and more right from the start, and then you throw in the playoff series and the history that’s been there so long, it’s exactly what I thought and more.”
The Penguins And Flyers Will Face One Another Again
The series between the longtime in-state rivals will begin on Saturday at Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena, where Game 2 will also be held before the series shifts to Philadelphia’s Xfinity Live Arena on Tuesday, followed by the fourth game of the series on Friday.
This marks the fifth time since 2008 that both teams will meet each other in the first round; the Penguins have won three of four series, while the Flyers took the highly-exciting opening round series in 2012.
Penguins’ Sidney Crosby Explains What Makes Flyers Rivalry So Intense