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

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

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

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

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Pittsburgh Penguins halfway Sidney Crosby waits for a faceoff during the 3rd play successful Game Five of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round against the 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 however the Flyers dominated the Penguins successful the archetypal 3 matchups. However, Gretzky warns anyone inactive believing the Flyers volition yet adjacent this retired to ne'er uncertainty a Sidney Crosby-led Penguins squad.

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

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

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The Latvian netminder has been nails for the Penguins, portion the discourtesy has recovered its mode for the squad with their backs against the wall.

That isn’t to accidental Gretzky doesn’t similar what he’s seen connected the different bench.

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

"Philly is playing with a batch of guts and energy," Gretzky explained. "I talked to 1 of the [NHL’s] coaches successful the past 10 games of the season, and they played Philly. He said it was 1 of the hardest teams they had to play against. They conscionable play the close way. They decorativeness checks, they play with energy. I truly similar their goaltender. I deliberation he’s a coagulated netminder. Playoff time, you got to person goaltending, man, oregon you don’t person a chance.

Pittsburgh Penguins halfway Sidney Crosby celebrates a extremity by teammate Connor Dewar during the 2nd play of Game Five successful the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs archetypal circular against the 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 similar Philly. It’s going to beryllium breathtaking to watch."

What seemed similar a speedy ending successful the archetypal circular has turned into a thrilling Game 6, with Crosby’s Penguins looking to bash everything they tin to get it backmost to Pittsburgh for a decisive Game 7.

Gretzky knows Crosby is telling his teammates what helium needs to get them successful the close framework of caput for a raucous Philly assemblage connected Wednesday night.

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

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby collides with Philadelphia Flyers' Travis Konecny during the archetypal play of Game 2 successful the archetypal circular of the 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 the level thrust home, ‘Listen, we’re backmost successful this. We’re going home. Our building. Let’s triumph Game 5.’ Then, each the momentum switches to america and each the unit benignant of goes to the Flyers. Obviously, Sid’s been 1 of the top captains ever during his clip successful Pittsburgh."

Crosby, the three-time Stanley Cup champion during his aboriginal Hall of Fame vocation successful Pittsburgh, has tallied a constituent successful each of the past 3 games against the Flyers. He had 2 assists successful the 3-2 triumph successful Game 5, portion scoring his archetypal Stanley Cup Playoffs extremity since 2022 successful Game 4.

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