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The Pittsburgh Penguins are still alive in the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers despite falling 3-0 to start the first-round series.
Game 6 is scheduled for puck drop in Philadelphia on Wednesday night, and there’s no need to explain the importance for both sides. Either way, Wayne Gretzky, “The Great One,” has loved everything about this series.
“Wow, this has been some 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.
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Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby waits for a faceoff during the third period of game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 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. However, Gretzky warns anyone who still believes the Flyers will eventually close this 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 God, [the Penguins] have so much firepower with it and [Evgeni] Malkin. “They made a goalkeeper change and it seems to have encouraged the team.”
In the first three games, Stuart Skinner scored for Pittsburgh, but head coach Dan Muse decided to give the nod to Arturs Silovs in a win-or-go-home Game 4, among other line changes.
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The Latvian netminder has been a rock for the Penguins, while the offense has found its way for the team that has its back to the wall.
That’s not to say Gretzky doesn’t like what he’s seen on the other bench.
The Flyers, one of the youngest teams in the NHL, had to make a run to make the playoffs. They turned on at just the right time and that momentum resulted in a dominant start to the series.
“Philadelphia is playing with a lot of guts and energy,” Gretzky explained. “I spoke to one of the [NHL’s] coaches in the final 10 games of the season, and they played Philadelphia. He said it was one of the toughest teams they had to play against. They just play the right way. They finish the controls, they play with energy. I really like their goalkeeper. I think he’s a solid goalkeeper. In the playoffs, you have to have a goalie, man, or you won’t have a chance.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby celebrates a goal by teammate Connor Dewar during the second period of game five in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 27, 2026. (Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)
“My goodness, this is such an important game for a young team like Philadelphia. It’s going to be exciting to watch.”
What looked like a quick finish to the first round turned into an exciting Game 6, with Crosby’s Penguins looking to do everything they could to return to Pittsburgh for a decisive Game 7.
Gretzky knows Crosby is telling his teammates what he needs to get them in the right frame of mind for a rowdy Philadelphia crowd on Wednesday night.
“It’s really tough, especially if you’re down 3-0 and the fourth game is on the road. That’s tough,” Gretzky said. “It takes leadership and experience to understand, to listen, you have to win four games. They are all clichés and I know they all say the right thing. But in the end, you have to have that confidence to win a game.
Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins collides with Travis Konecny of the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period of Game 2 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in Pittsburgh on April 20, 2026. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
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“So you win Game 4 and on the plane home you say, ‘Listen, we’re back at this. We’re going home. To our building. Let’s win Game 5.’ Then all the momentum shifts to us and all the pressure goes to the Flyers. Obviously, Sid has been one of the greatest captains of all time during his time in Pittsburgh.”
Crosby, a three-time Stanley Cup champion during his future Hall of Fame career in Pittsburgh, has scored a point in each of the last three games against the Flyers. He had two assists in a 3-2 win in Game 5, while scoring his first Stanley Cup Playoff goal since 2022 in Game 4.
