After the Pittsburgh Penguins lost 1-0 in overtime to the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 of their NHL first-round series, Sidney Crosby spoke to the media with a heavy heart. The loss ends their 2026 Stanley Cup playoff run on April 29, and Crosby is focused on how close the team came to reaching a seventh game.
The Pittsburgh Penguins captain was interviewed by reporters after the game and summed up the team’s wonderful performance. He said the team was “a stone’s throw away” from pulling back a Game 7 in Pittsburgh.
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“It’s unfortunate,” Crosby said. “I think, especially the second half of that game, overtime, we had some really nice plays. We were one step away from going back to Pittsburgh for a Game 7. So, you know, sometimes it’s just a bounce back, but it’s hard to put yourself in that position.
“But I think we all had a lot of belief that we could get out of this, and I think our game showed that. It’s unfortunate that we fell behind early in the series.”
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The loss was even more painful because of the fight the Penguins showed. After falling behind 3-0 in the series, they came back with two straight wins. Crosby said toughness defined the team all season long.
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“I think that’s what this group has been about all year,” Crosby said. “So, I think we’ve done a really good job of that, facing adversity, fighting back and hanging on. So, yeah, we believe we’re going to come back and like I said, we’re right there.”
Game 6 turned into a close, scoreless battle that lasted until overtime. Dan Vladar had a stellar performance, stopping 42 shots and shutting out Pittsburgh. Then, at 17 minutes and 32 seconds of overtime, Cam York buried the winning goal, sending the Flyers into the second round.
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Crosby didn’t hide his disappointment. He acknowledged that the feeling of losing a loved one was still painful and said the prospect would come later. For now, the focus remains on how close the Penguins are to extending their season.
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“I think we understand people’s expectations and things like that,” Crosby said. “I don’t think it matters anymore now, but I think we have time to look back on this season. There’s a lot to like. So, I think that’s probably the reality.
“But I think right now we’re still fresh with how close we are. I think we felt like we had a chance to get ourselves back in the series and it didn’t work out.”
The Penguins’ return to the playoffs after a gap since 2022 shows progress. Crosby continues to play at a high level, leading both on the ice and on the counterattack. However, the exit leaves questions about what comes next as the veteran captain completes his 21st NHL season.
