Wayne Gretzky warns against counting out Sidney Crosby's Penguins in comeback bid against Flyers

The Pittsburgh Penguins stay live successful nan Stanley Cup Playoffs against nan Philadelphia Flyers contempt going down 3-0 to statesman nan first-round series.

Game 6 is group for puck driblet successful Philadelphia connected Wednesday night, and there’s nary request to explicate nan value for some sides. Either way, Wayne Gretzky, "The Great One," has loved everything astir this series.

"Boy, this has been really bully hockey. It’s fast, it’s physical, there’s a batch of skill. It’s been enjoyable to watch. It’s awesome for hockey," Gretzky said connected nan "Game Notes" podcast.

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Pittsburgh Penguins halfway Sidney Crosby waits for a faceoff during nan 3rd play successful Game Five of nan 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round against nan Philadelphia Flyers astatine PPG Paints Arena successful Pittsburgh, Pa., connected April 27, 2026. (Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

But galore didn’t judge we’d spot a Game 6 successful this bid aft really the Flyers dominated nan Penguins successful nan first 3 matchups. However, Gretzky warns anyone still believing nan Flyers will yet adjacent this retired to ne'er uncertainty a Sidney Crosby-led Penguins squad.

"You ne'er count Crosby out, right? Even astatine 3-0, if there’s 1 squad that has nan expertise to travel back, my goodness, [the Penguins] person truthful overmuch firepower pinch him and [Evgeni] Malkin. They made a goaltending change, and it seems to person perked nan team."

The first 3 games saw Stuart Skinner successful nett for Pittsburgh, but caput coach Dan Muse decided to springiness Arturs Silovs nan motion successful a win-or-go-home Game 4, among different statement changes.

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The Latvian netminder has been nails for nan Penguins, while nan discourtesy has recovered its measurement for nan squad pinch their backs against nan wall.

That isn’t to opportunity Gretzky doesn’t for illustration what he’s seen connected nan different bench.

The Flyers, 1 of nan youngest teams successful nan NHL, had to spell connected a tally conscionable to make it into nan playoffs. They caught occurrence astatine conscionable nan correct time, and that momentum resulted successful a ascendant commencement to nan series.

"Philly is playing pinch a batch of courage and energy," Gretzky explained. "I talked to 1 of nan [NHL’s] coaches successful nan past 10 games of nan season, and they played Philly. He said it was 1 of nan hardest teams they had to play against. They conscionable play nan correct way. They decorativeness checks, they play pinch energy. I really for illustration their goaltender. I deliberation he’s a coagulated netminder. Playoff time, you sewage to person goaltending, man, aliases you don’t person a chance.

Pittsburgh Penguins halfway Sidney Crosby celebrates a extremity by teammate Connor Dewar during nan 2nd play of Game Five successful nan 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs first information against nan Philadelphia Flyers astatine PPG Paints Arena successful Pittsburgh, Pa., connected April 27, 2026. (Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

"So, gosh, this is specified a large crippled for a young squad for illustration Philly. It’s going to beryllium breathtaking to watch."

What seemed for illustration a speedy ending successful nan first information has turned into a thrilling Game 6, pinch Crosby’s Penguins looking to do everything they tin to get it backmost to Pittsburgh for a decisive Game 7.

Gretzky knows Crosby is telling his teammates what he needs to get them successful nan correct framework of mind for a raucous Philly crowd connected Wednesday night.

"It’s really difficult, particularly if you get down 3-0 and nan 4th crippled is connected nan road. That’s tough," Gretzky said. "It takes activity and acquisition to understand, listen, you gotta triumph 4 games. It’s each cliches, and I cognize everybody says nan correct thing. But ultimately, you sewage to person that assurance to triumph 1 game.

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby collides pinch Philadelphia Flyers' Travis Konecny during nan first play of Game 2 successful nan first information of nan NHL Stanley Cup playoffs successful Pittsburgh connected April 20, 2026. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

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"So, you triumph Game 4 and you’re saying connected nan level thrust home, ‘Listen, we’re backmost successful this. We’re going home. Our building. Let’s triumph Game 5.’ Then, each nan momentum switches to america and each nan unit benignant of goes to nan Flyers. Obviously, Sid’s been 1 of nan top captains ever during his clip successful Pittsburgh."

Crosby, nan three-time Stanley Cup champion during his early Hall of Fame profession successful Pittsburgh, has tallied a constituent successful each of nan past 3 games against nan Flyers. He had 2 assists successful nan 3-2 triumph successful Game 5, while scoring his first Stanley Cup Playoffs extremity since 2022 successful Game 4.

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