Gretzky warns against ruling out Crosby's Penguins
Wayne Gretzky cautioned against dismissing the Pittsburgh Penguins' chances in their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers despite a 3-2 deficit. The Penguins, led by Sidney Crosby, won Games 4 and 5 after falling behind 3-0. Game 6 takes place in Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
Gretzky, speaking on the "Game Notes" podcast, praised the series as "really good hockey" that is "fast, physical" with "a lot of skill." He highlighted the Penguins' firepower from Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, along with a goaltending switch from Stuart Skinner to Arturs Silovs that energized the team. The Latvian goaltender has performed steadily since taking over in Game 4.
Crosby, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and Penguins captain, recorded points in the last three games, including his first playoff goal since 2022 in Game 4 and two assists in Pittsburgh's 3-2 Game 5 win on April 27, 2026. Gretzky also commended the young Flyers for their late-season surge into the playoffs and their "guts and energy," noting their strong checking and solid goaltending.
A Penguins victory in Game 6 would force a decisive Game 7 in Pittsburgh. Gretzky emphasized Crosby's leadership in rallying the team from a 3-0 hole on the road, stressing the need to win one game at a time to shift momentum.
