NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
The Pittsburgh Penguins remain alive in the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers despite falling 3-0 to begin the series in the first round.
Game 6 is set for puck drop in Philadelphia on Wednesday night, and there’s no need to explain the importance to either side. Either way, Wayne Gretzky, “The Great One,” loved everything about this series.
“Boy, this has been really good hockey. It’s fast, it’s physical, there’s a lot of skill. It’s been fun to watch. It’s great for hockey,” Gretzky said on the “Game Notes” podcast.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby waits for a faceoff in the third period of Game Five of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs first round against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa., April 27, 2026. (Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)
But many didn’t believe we’d see a Game 6 in this series after how the Flyers dominated the Penguins in the first three matchups. But Gretzky cautions anyone who still believes the Flyers will eventually close this one out to never doubt a Sidney Crosby-led Penguins team.
“You never count Crosby out, do you? Even at 3-0, if there’s a team that has the ability to come back, my goodness, [the Penguins] has so much firepower with him and [Evgeni] Malkin. They made a goalkeeping change and it seems to have refreshed the team.”
The first three games saw Stuart Skinner in net for Pittsburgh, but head coach Dan Muse decided to give Arturs Silovs the nod in a win-or-go-home Game 4, among other line changes.
FLYERS COACH RICK TOCCHET ADVISES HIS TEAM UP AFTER GAME 5 LOSS: ‘THEY HAVE TO STOP IT’
The Latvian netminder has been a nail for the Penguins, while the offense has found its way to the team with its back against the wall.
That doesn’t mean Gretzky doesn’t like what he’s seen on the other bench.
The Flyers, one of the youngest teams in the NHL, had to go out and run just to make the playoffs. They caught fire at just the right time, and that momentum resulted in a dominant start to the series.
“Philly plays with a lot of guts and energy,” Gretzky explained. “I talked to one of them [NHL’s] coaches for the last 10 games of the season, and they played against Philly. He said it was one of the toughest teams they had to play against. They just play the right way. They end control, they play with energy. I really like their goalkeeper. I think he’s a solid netminder. Playoff time, you’ve got to have goaltending, man, or you ain’t got a chance.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby celebrates a goal by teammate Connor Dewar during the second period of Game Five of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs first round against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 27, 2026. (Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)
“So, gosh, it’s such a big game for a young team like Philly. It’s going to be exciting to watch.”
What seemed like a quick finish in the first round has turned into a thrilling Game 6, with Crosby’s Penguins looking to do everything they can to make it back to Pittsburgh for a decisive Game 7.
Gretzky knows Crosby tells his teammates what he needs to get them in the right frame of mind for a raucous Philly crowd Wednesday night.
“It’s really tough, especially if you’re down 3-0 and the fourth game is coming up. It’s tough,” Gretzky said. “It takes leadership and experience to understand, to listen, you’ve got to win four games. It’s all clichés and I know everybody’s saying the right thing. But at the end of the day you have to have that confidence to win a game.
Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby collides with Philadelphia Flyers’ Travis Konecny during the first period of Game 2 of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in Pittsburgh on April 20, 2026. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
“So, you win Game 4 and you say on the flight home, “Look, we’re back in this. We’re going home. Our building. Let’s win Game 5.” Then all the momentum shifts to us and all the pressure kind of goes to the Flyers. It’s clear that Sid has been one of the greatest captains of all time during his time in Pittsburgh.”
Crosby, the three-time Stanley Cup champion during his future Hall of Fame career in Pittsburgh, has a point in each of the past three games against the Flyers. He had two assists in the 3-2 win in Game 5, while scoring his first Stanley Cup Playoff goal since 2022 in Game 4.
