“We named [Celebrini] captain before [Crosby] agreed to participate,” Treliving stated, via Toronto Sun. “When Sid came, he was adamant that Mack remain the captain. At the same time, Mack was adamant that Sid be the captain.“

In the end, it would appear Crosby had the final say in the matter. According to a report from Chris Johnston, it was a player-led decision to keep the ‘C’ on Celebrini’s jersey. However, things could’ve turned out differently had Crosby asked to wear the ‘C’ rather than an ‘A’.

Crosby’s role exceeds title

In more ways than one, that speaks to both Crosby’s selflessness and his impact on everyday decisions. One could say it’s proof that Crosby is, and forever will be, “Captain Canada.” As long as he is still playing, other stars may earn the title, but it may only be a formality.

Crosby is the leader everybody looks up to. And that doesn’t take anything away from Celebrini—or any other player on Canada‘s roster—and their importance. “Sid the Kid” is simply a step above. Scoring the golden goal in 2010 is only the tip of the iceberg.

Canada’s hot start in Worlds

With 5-3 and 6-0 victories over Sweden and Italy, respectively, Canada got off to a great start in Group B of the 2026 IIHF World Championship. So far, Crosby has an assist (on a goal by Celebrini) through the opening two games. Celebrini has three points with two goals and an assist.

Canada has five games left in group stage with matchups against Denmark (who knocked Crosby and Canada out in quarterfinals last year), Norway, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Czechia.

“Macklin Celebrini will remain as captain for Canada at the IIHF World Hockey Championship, with Sidney Crosby wearing an ‘A’. That was decided after a player-led discussion,” Chris Johnston reported on his X account. “The players wanted Celebrini to keep the ‘C’.“

Although Crosby will always be considered Captain Canada, he will not lace up the skates forever. Moreover, this might be the sacrifice Canada needs to exorcise the ghosts of its past. The last time Crosby played for his national team without a ‘C’ on his sweater, good things happened. In fact, those were the golden days.

2010 Winter Olympics

The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver were the last major tournament in which Crosby played for his country in a non-captain role. Everybody knows how that story ended—especially Crosby, who scored the golden goal in overtime to lift Canada past Team USA and secure the national men’s team’s eighth gold medal in Winter Olympics history.

More than a decade and a half later—16 years, to be precise—Crosby will serve as an alternate captain while another player wears the ‘C’. Perhaps that is exactly what the Great White North needs to snap its championship drought—if it can even be called one. Canada’s last major title came at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. Or the 4 Nations Face-Off, depending on who you ask.

Passing of the torch in Canada

Everybody knew the day would arrive sooner or later. Perhaps Canadians did not expect it to happen in such a confusing—or possibly dramatic—fashion, but there may never be a perfect way to make it happen. One way or another, there has been a passing of the torch regardless.

Either way, for the first time since 2010, there will be a new captain on a Hockey Canada squad featuring Crosby, and it will be none other than Macklin Celebrini. Connor McDavid did captain the team in this year’s gold medal game against Team USA, but even he admitted he was simply keeping the ‘C’ warm for Crosby, who was sidelined with a lower-body injury. Thus, it is the 19-year-old from North Vancouver who has been handed the torch—not McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon.

Celebrini earned it

Coming off a 115-point season in just his sophomore NHL campaign and after establishing himself as one of the best players at the Olympics, Celebrini has proven he belongs at this level. Now, he will be tasked with leading a roster filled with veterans despite being the second-youngest player on the team. In fact, if not for Porter Martone’s late decision to join the squad, Celebrini would have been the youngest player on the roster.

The veterans will have to listen to the kid. It should not be too hard, especially considering they have been listening to “Sid the Kid” for the past decade and a half. Now, there is a new high-pitched voice in charge—one that already has 178 career points in just 152 NHL games.

Something to keep an eye on

“We’ll figure it out. No, [it doesn’t matter to me]. Obviously, it’s an honor anytime you get to wear the ‘C’, but we’ve got so many great leaders. It’ll be a quick discussion,” Crosby had said prior to the report in dialogue with TSN. “[Celebrini] has had an unbelievable year. He looks amazing out there. I can see why he got selected.”

As for Celebrini, his message signaled he didn’t wish to give up the ‘C’ so easily. “Everybody knows [Crosby] is Captain Canada. He’s been the captain for so many years and the face of Canada and hockey in general. Just got to talk about it,“ he commented.

Quoting Johnston’s report, “the players wanted Celebrini to keep the ‘C’.” However, that begs the question, what did Crosby say behind closed doors? Will this turn out to be a source of conflict inside the locker room? It seems unlikely considering Crosby has always been selfless and very supportive of Celebrini in the national team. All that matters for Crosby and company is walking away of Switzerland as the 2026 IIHF World Championship winners.

“It’s not yet clear if Sidney Crosby’s decision to join Canada at the worlds will alter plans for Macklin Celebrini to wear the ‘C,’ but needless to say, there’s lots of excitement about his addition to the roster,” Chris Johnston wrote on his X account.

Either way, Celebrini will welcome Crosby, who took him under his wing during the 2026 Olympics, with open arms. The duo—like Hockey Canada as a whole—will be out for revenge after the heartbreaking defeat in the gold-medal game against Team USA in Milan, Italy.

Crosby may not want to strip Celebrini of the ‘C’

With Sid the Kid’s addition to the roster, Celebrini and Crosby may find themselves in a bidding battle in which each side is actually rooting for the other to be captain. It’s often believed that as long as Crosby is playing, no one has a stronger case to be ‘Captain Canada.’

However, knowing Crosby, it’s plausible he would push for Celebrini to captain the team. After all, Celebrini was already named captain, and demoting him to an alternate role may not be the best look for Canada—nor something Crosby would want to orchestrate sub rosa.

Potential resolution by Hockey Canada

As it stands, Canada has named Celebrini as captain with Ryan O’Reilly and John Tavares serving as alternates. Perhaps the most reasonable—and likely—outcome is for Canada to add a third alternate captain, allowing Crosby to wear a letter while also giving Celebrini valuable experience as the leader of the national team.

It’d make sense. After all, Crosby won’t play forever—though it often feels that way—and someday a new captain will have to be named. There may be no better candidate than the 19-year-old from North Vancouver, who has grown accustomed to shattering records left and right.

However, that same argument about Crosby eventually hanging up the skates could also be used to support his case. Because someday he will no longer represent Hockey Canada, it may be best to let him wear the ‘C’ whenever possible, because nobody knows which tournament will be his last.

Crosby replaces Barzal

Shortly after Team Canada announced Matthew Barzal would step down from the 2026 IIHF World Championship due to a minor pre-existing injury, Crosby’s addition was confirmed. Thus, Crosby’s call-up was an emergency one, as the Canadians lost a valuable member of the team ahead of the international tournament.

The Pittsburgh Penguins captain accepted the invitation after his NHL season was cut short by a first-round elimination at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers. For a born competitor like Crosby, there’s no better medicine for that kind of heartbreak than jumping right back into the action of another high-stakes competition with his country.

“Just so appreciative for the opportunity to have played with them as long as we have. Hopefully, we can keep going,” Crosby said after the playoff elimination from the 2025-26 NHL campaign, via Pens Inside Scoop. “It’s kind of hard to put into words, honestly. We probably have just gotten used to. I think they’re like family. We’ve had some great wins, some tough losses like this.”

Crosby’s statement was a clear message to the organization and the higher ranks in the front office, including president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas. Still, the Penguins will take their time before coming to a final decision on Malkin, who will turn 40 before the 2026–27 NHL season. In fact, Malkin will be the same age as Dubas when the puck drops in October.

Crosby, Malkin, and Letang: ‘The Big Three’

Crosby, Malkin, and Kris Letang have played together for the past 20 seasons in the NHL. No other trio in North American sports history has been together for as long as the “Big Three” in Pittsburgh. Ask any of the three, and they hope to keep the streak going in the 2026–27 season.

However, at some point, the front office must decide what’s best for the organization. Malkin is set to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in the summer, and although Dubas has admitted there’s interest in a reunion, anything can happen.

If it were up to Crosby, the decision would be made in a heartbeat, though he understands the business side of it and doesn’t take these past two decades for granted. Obviously, the trio has led Pittsburgh to three Stanley Cup conquests (2009, 2016, and 2017).

Where do the Penguins go next?

Entering this season, many expected it to be a sort of last dance for the “Big Three.” Making the postseason was a surprise, and the belief in the City of Bridges was that the trio could pull off one last improbable deep run. In the end, Crosby, Malkin, and Letang did their job but couldn’t overcome the lack of depth in Pittsburgh, and the young Flyers squad ultimately took them out in six games, in identical fashion to their first-round elimination by Philly in 2012.

Now, the dilemma is even harder for the Penguins. Should they call it a career for the “Big Three,” or have the three veterans proven to be part of the solution? Whichever route Dubas and company go down, only time will tell whether it was the right move or not.

For as much success as Crosby and company have had, the past few years have been anything but kind to fans in Pittsburgh. Moreover, extending Malkin may only be clawing at and holding on to the last thread of the glory days in the City of Bridges. It might have lost its grace and may be seen as more of a last-ditch effort than a tribute to the franchise’s active heroes..

Might be time to move on

Since hoisting back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, the Penguins have only won a single playoff series. That was back in 2018. Since the Washington Capitals knocked them out of the second round, en route to their Cup conquest, the Pens haven’t been the same.

Pittsburgh has been bounced in the opening round five times since (including once in the qualifying round in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the bubble). Moreover, they missed the postseason entirely three years in a row (2023, 2024, and 2025).

Pittsburgh’s 2025–26 NHL season was an anomaly. Against all odds, the Pens made the playoffs in Dan Muse’s first year as head coach. However, at the end of the day, it was only an oasis in the desert. It takes no master in biology to know a penguin won’t last long in the desert, and thus time is running out for Pittsburgh to figure out what’s wrong.

It starts with Malkin

Nailing the Malkin decision in the offseason is only the first step, yet it could well make or break Dubas’ plans for the summer. Crosby has sent his two cents out there for the organization to listen to, and it will. However, Crosby is only signed through one more season, and sooner or later, the Penguins will have to brace for a team that no longer features “Sid the Kid.”

“That’s something that happens sometimes. You try to go in front of the net. Sometimes [those shots] hit you, sometimes they go by and they don’t hit you. I feel good,” Crosby admitted after Game 5, via Pens Inside Scoop on X.

Crosby was also hit with an ill-intended cross-check by Travis Konecny after the buzzer sounded in Game 5. Despite falling to the ice and being slow to get up, Crosby made no mention of the incident, so all signs indicate he’s good to go for the next matchup against the Flyers.

Crosby is healthy for Penguins

Hearing Crosby is fully healthy is just what fans in Pittsburgh wanted to hear. The Penguins have battled back from down 3-0 in the series against the Philadelphia Flyers to force a Game 6 back in the City of Brotherly Love. Only one more win separates the Pens from forcing a win-or-go-home Game 7 back at PPG PAINTS Arena.

Pittsburgh may be operating with an advantage, as its last two outings in the Stanley Cup Playoffs have already been elimination games. Playing with their backs against the wall, Crosby and company finally showed their teeth, and the Flyers are sensing the pressure.

2012 flashback gives Flyers hope

Though the Flyers’ lineup looks nothing like it did back in the 2011–12 NHL campaign, there are many similarities between the two first-round matchups against the Penguins that year and this time around. Both times, Philly jumped to a 3-0 lead before Pittsburgh clawed its way back to force a Game 6 in South Philadelphia. The Flyers would go on to win that game and eliminate the Pens.

Over a decade has passed since, but the squad in the Birthplace of America is hanging on to the hope that history will repeat itself. It serves as consolation; if not, the panic meter would be at an all-time high. Perhaps it already is.

Flyers sense the pressure, Penguins feed off of it

The Flyers are young and lack playoff experience. Watching how Crosby and company refuse to go out puts an incredible amount of pressure on them. The Penguins are using that to their advantage.

Moreover, the fact Philadelphia is punishing its best players and pointing blaming fingers around the locker room may be the perfect sign for the Pens. Penguins may not be the apex predator, but even they can smell blood and decide to go in for the kill.

Series schedule

The Penguins will travel to the Cradle of Liberty for Game 6 on April 29. If they manage to come away with their third straight triumph in the series, the Pens will keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive in the 2025–26 NHL season and force a decisive Game 7 back home in the City of Bridges. The win-or-go-home showdown is scheduled for May 2.

Down 3-1, the series returns to Pittsburgh, where the Penguins must win their first home playoff game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs if they hope to stay alive in the 2025-26 NHL season. After being held scoreless through the first two games, Crosby has seemingly found his footing against Philadelphia.

Coming off a two-point outing against the Flyers in Game 4 at Xfinity Mobile Arena, the Pens’ captain spoke on the team’s performance. His message might as well serve as a warning to the Flyers, who have now learned the fourth win of any series is the hardest to secure.

“It’s only one, but it gives us some life,” Crosby admitted after the game, via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “That looked more like our game. And it’s probably taken us three games to look like ourselves a bit. So that’s something that we can definitely build on.”

Penguins are one game away from elimination

The Penguins have their backs against the wall. Any mistake could put them out of the race for the Stanley Cup and bring an end to what’s been an incredible 2025–26 NHL campaign. Not many expected the Pens—nor the Flyers—to be here. Still, here they are, and they have no desire to head back home early.

Luckily for Pittsburgh, this isn’t Crosby and company’s first rodeo. They’ve been here before, although they’ve never come back from a 3–0 series deficit. There’s always a first time for everything, though. That’s looking at the bright side.

Penguins could relive 2012 memories

On the other hand, the series against the Flyers could turn out to be awfully similar to the matchup in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. That time, Crosby and the Penguins lost the first three games before prevailing in Games 4 and 5, only to be defeated in Game 6 back in the City of Brotherly Love. There’s a high chance the Pens-Flyers series goes exactly that way 14 years later. After all, history has a way of repeating itself.

Still, having looked like themselves for the first time in the series and snapping their six-game losing streak (going back to the regular season), the Penguins have reason to believe things can end up differently this time. Showings like their performance in Game 4 definitely help, and it might be just what Crosby and Pittsburgh needed to come to life.

Although Crosby finally registered his first point of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs—snapping his two-game drought—it wasn’t a good night for him or the Penguins. It felt like they weren’t on the referees’ good side all game long. Though Crosby had seen the glass half full despite the Pens’ terrible start to the series, that’s all changed. Desperation might be the one speaking now.

Crosby was assessed an embellishment penalty—the first of his career—on what would’ve been a critical man-advantage situation for the Pens. Still, Crosby was even more fired up about the second-period incidents that led to a game-changing power play for the Flyers.

“It kind of turned into a bit of a circus there,” Crosby said about the chaotic turn of events in the second period, via Pens Inside Scoop. “I’m not sure why [the refs] decided to put five guys in the box on each side. I felt like that kind of changed a lot of the momentum. Felt like [the Flyers] fed off that.”

What happened in second period?

Pittsburgh led 1-0 in the second period when all havoc broke loose on the ice. As players got involved in fisticuffs, the zebras handed out penalties like they were candy. A total of 11 penalties were assessed to 10 different players. The key difference was that Bryan Rust ended up with an extra penalty, handing Philly a power-play opportunity.

With five players on each team’s penalty box, Trevor Zegras cashed in with a thunderous one-timer in the man-advantage, and the game flipped entirely. It was all Flyers from there on out, and the Penguins could never recover.

“I don’t know how Rusty ends up with the extra [penalty] out of all of that, I don’t know how I end up with the embellishment,” Crosby said, expressing his confusion at the referees’ decisions in Game 3. “It’s hard to understand, but you gotta play through that.”

Officiating crew during Game 3

According to Scouting The Refs, Jake Brenk and Francois St. Laurent were the referees at Xfinity Mobile Arena during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup between the Flyers and Penguins. The linesmen were C. J. Murray and Jonny Murray.

Though namesakes, the two linespersons are not related. Moreover, C.J. Murray was born in Pittsburgh, but he still found himself in Crosby’s crosshairs, as the Penguins believe they got the short end of the stick.

Penguins face elimination

The Penguins are hanging on to their last life in the 2025–26 NHL season. Virtually nobody expected them to be in the postseason coming into the year, but after finishing second in the Metro, they hope to make the most of what might be the last rodeo for Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. Fight to live another day—that’s the name of the game for Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh boasts an experienced lineup—this isn’t its first rodeo in the NHL postseason—and Crosby is hanging on to that as a beacon of hope. Although head coach Dan Muse made it clear Crosby and company should be frustrated after falling in consecutive home games, the captain himself sees this as an opportunity for the Penguins to prove themselves—once more.

“I think we’ve been in some tough spots all year,” Crosby commented, via NHL.com. “We’ve always responded really well to adversity. It seems like it’s brought out the best in all of us. I think that getting on the road and having a situation like this hopefully brings out the best in us again here.”

Crosby remains scoreless

Through the first two games of the first-round showdown against the Flyers, Crosby has been neutralized by Rick Tocchet and company. Despite registering 7 shots through two outings, the Pens’ captain has yet to score a point and is carrying a -2 plus/minus in the series. The last time Crosby was held scoreless in consecutive postseason games was during the 2020-21 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Crosby is far from the main culprit behind the Penguins‘ rough start to the Stanley Cup Playoffs—that could very well be the nail in their coffin—but his team still needs him to step up if Pittsburgh wants to stay alive. Being held scoreless by the Flyers is not like Crosby.

In his career, he has scored 139 points against the Flyers—the second most against any team, with only the Islanders ranking higher. Moreover, Crosby’s 60 career goals (regular season only) against Philadelphia are his most against a single opponent. In playoff games, Crosby has scored 15 goals against the Flyers.

When do Crosby and Penguins play again?

Crosby and the Penguins will hit the road for Games 3 and 4 of the first-round matchup against the Flyers. Pittsburgh’s first visit to Xfinity Mobile Arena will be on April 22, while Game 4 will take place on Saturday, Apr. 25. Thus, the Penguins are in for a long stay in Philly.

Though dubbed the City of Brotherly Love, it’s clear there is no love for the Flyers’ cross-state neighbors in South Philly. Entering the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, Crosby and the Penguins will quickly be reminded of how deep the rivalry runs.

Flyers vs Penguins: Playoff history

The Flyers have a chance to sweep the Pens in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The two franchises have met seven times in the postseason; Philadelphia leads with four series wins to Pittsburgh’s three, but neither has ever swept the other Pennsylvania organization.

A win in Game 3 could allow the Flyers to put their foot on the Pens’ throat, and it might be all she wrote for Crosby and company. If there’s a silver lining for Crosby and the Pens to hang their hats on, it’s that the Penguins have won their last three playoff games in Philly (2017-18 Stanley Cup Playoffs). If they can keep that trend going, they might save their 2025–26 NHL season.

“There should be frustration. (We) should be frustrated,” Muse admitted after Game 2, per NHL.com. “We just lost two games at home. And so, I would hope nobody’s happy right now. Nobody should be.”

While Crosby sees the glass half full despite the rough start to the series, Muse may not share his captain’s perspective. The Penguins know they can still turn things around, but they are up against the ropes. If Pittsburgh doesn’t return the favor and win both upcoming games (Games 3 and 4) in Philadelphia, the series may as well be over—even if it returns to the Burgh for Game 5.

Flyers have Pens’ number

Simply put, the Penguins have not been the better team through the first two games of the first-round series. Philadelphia looks hungrier, faster, stronger, and—most importantly—far more effective. The Pens can’t buy a goal, and the Flyers make it look easy.

In a playoff matchup featuring nine Stanley Cups combined between Crosby, Malkin, and Letang, there’s a 19-year-old with fewer than 10 NHL regular-season career games who’s running the show. Porter Martone has scored the game-winning goal in both games at PPG Paints Arena and is a big reason the Flyers lead 2–0 heading back to the City of Brotherly Love.

Penguins have to take a look in the mirror

Less than a two-hour flight from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, Muse, Crosby, and company won’t have much time in the air for deep thinking. Still, they must figure out a way to retake control of the series. At some point, the Penguins’ playoff experience must carry its weight and not succumb to the energized young squad in Philadelphia.

The Penguins are no longer in 2012, but Crosby still doesn’t like the Flyers—least of all would he like to get knocked out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by them, especially when postseason appearances have become rarer for the Pens, and this might be his last rodeo.

The Penguins came out a bit flat in their first playoff game since the 2021-22 NHL season. The energized Flyers dominated most of the action and they walked away with an important win to start the series. As for Pittsburgh, there’s room for improvement, and its leaders Crosby and Malkin may already know what needs to change. The Penguins must stay out of the box. In order to do so, they can’t play into the Flyers’ hands.

“That’s going to be part of a series,” Crosby admitted about after the whistle activities and penalties, per NHL.com. “I think we’ve got to stay out of it a little bit more and trust that when they do it and try to start it up, that they’re going to get penalized for it. But that’s more something I think they’re looking to do. We’ve got to stay out of it and trust they’ll be undisciplined.”

“We start fighting. This is what they want, you know? We know it’s Philly, we know it’s the playoffs, we know it’s coming,” Malkin added. “I like to play physical, I like to play a hard game. But just after a whistle, we need to just, like, go away and play smart. Everybody should be a little bit smarter.”

Crosby held pointless

Making his first postseason appearance since May 15, 2022, the spotlight was on Crosby as the Penguins hosted a Stanley Cup Playoffs game at PPG Paints Arena for the first time in what felt like forever for fans in The Burgh. However, Rick Tocchet and the Flyers came up with a strong plan to keep him quiet all night long.

Crosby was held off the scoresheet, and that is a recipe for success when facing the Penguins. Pittsburgh is 8–14 this season in games Crosby doesn’t register a point. Still, the Flyers can’t rest on their laurels.

Crosby will be out for revenge in Game 2, and he only needs one to be back in full force and be decisive in the series. Philadelphia should know that by now. “Sid the Kid” is 3–1 against the Flyers in playoff series.

Flyers win crucial Game 1

Analytics and common sense tell the whole story. Philadelphia secured a crucial triumph in Game 1. Winning the series opener is usually an indicator of success. According to a June 2023 article from Sports Insider, teams that win Game 1 go on to win the series 68% of the time. Those who do so on the road—like the Flyers did against the Penguins—have a series success rate of 57%.

These numbers may have fluctuated a bit since, but they remain in that range. Winning the series opener most of the time is an indicator of winning the series. Just because the math is on their side doesn’t mean the job is finished, though. The Flyers know they’ve awakened the beast, and they must brace for Crosby, Malkin, and the rest of the Penguins to unleash their wrath.

“It’s still there, maybe not to the extent that it was,” Crosby stated on his rivalry with Ovechkin and the Capitals, via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Hopefully people have been entertained. As competitors, as athletes, it’s been pretty cool to be able to be a part of some big games and that rivalry.”

The cooldown in the rivalry was made clear before puck drop and after the final horn in Washington’s 3-0 victory over Pittsburgh in the 2025–26 NHL season. Crosby and Ovechkin shared a moment before the game and were also together afterwards, when Crosby and Evgeni Malkin signed Ovi’s jersey and gifted him some memorabilia from the game. Moreover, Ovechkin thanked Crosby after the potential last matchup in the league.

Crosby vs Ovechkin: A rivalry built on respect

As fierce competitors as they are, and as much as both want to win against the other, Crosby and Ovechkin have built a bond over the years. As Crosby noted, the rivalry shifted a long time ago. The Penguins and Capitals haven’t been as competitive in recent years, and neither star has had it out for the other.

Instead, it seems both have become more aware of the other’s greatness. Despite being pitted against one another for their entire careers, both Crosby and Ovechkin have the utmost respect for one another, and their rivalry is far from an animated one nowadays.

Playoff matchups between Crosby and Ovi

Much can change if the Capitals end up coming away with a postseason berth. If Washington secures the third spot in the Metro Division, it will go up against second-seeded Pittsburgh in the first round. Perhaps that’s exactly what the rivalry needs to reignite its competitive flame.

Crosby’s Penguins and Ovechkin’s Capitals have met four times in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the former holding a 3-1 series advantage. Moreover, the Pens are 9-2 all-time against the Caps in playoff series.

Washington is by far the team Pittsburgh has knocked out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs the most. Maybe Ovechkin will get the last laugh. Or perhaps Crosby will send him into retirement with yet another playoff elimination.

As it stands, that might be a best-case scenario for the Capitals, who are in need of somewhat of a miracle to even make the postseason. As it stands, the Philadelphia Flyers are in full control of their destiny as the third seed in the Metro.

That would make for a vintage playoff showdown between the Flyers and Crosby’s Penguins. Contrary to his rivalry with Ovechkin and the Caps, that matchup will be filled with vitriol, as Crosby has lost none of his dislike for the Pens’ cross-state rivals.