{"id":321295,"date":"2026-04-19T18:59:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T13:29:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=321295"},"modified":"2026-04-19T18:59:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T13:29:58","slug":"sidney-crosby-led-his-pittsburgh-penguins-back-to-the-stanley-cup-playoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/04\/19\/sidney-crosby-led-his-pittsburgh-penguins-back-to-the-stanley-cup-playoffs\/","title":{"rendered":"Sidney Crosby Led His Pittsburgh Penguins Back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> are back within the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They may tackle their in-state rival, the Philadelphia Flyers, in Round 1. No person expected either team to be on this position. Most pegged the Penguins and Flyers to complete near the underside of the Metro Division, but here they’re once more renewing their rivalry. A part of the explanation the Penguins are on this position is due to their captain, Sidney Crosby.<\/p>\n

NHL Rumors: Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas on Sidney Crosby<\/p>\n

The Penguins missed the playoffs the last three seasons in 2023, 2024, and 2025. All of the talk was about Sidney Crosby and the way awesome it could be to see him within the Stanley Cup Playoffs again. Most felt it could be with one other team. There was a ton of trade speculation even after he signed his two-year extension.<\/p>\n

But with Mike Sullivan gone and recent head coach Dan Muse, Crosby told his teammates to dam out the surface noise in regards to the Penguins being a rebuilding team and that they were going to get Gavin McKenna within the 2026 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n

As Jim Biringer of NHLRumors.com and Full Press Media explained on \u201cThe Point\u201d on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio with Jake Hahn and Victoria Matiash, Sidney Crosby told his teammates it’s a \u201cus vs the world \u201d mentality because the Penguins embraced a brand new mindset and youthful energy to get them so far.<\/p>\n

NHLRumors.com Transcriptions<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Jake Hahn: \u201cWe love you joining us here, Jim and shedding a bit of light on the Devils. But I do know you\u2019re dialled into the whole league. I\u2019ll stick within the Metro, because obviously, you\u2019ve probably seen a number of these themes all yr long. How are you going to explain what\u2019s happened in Pittsburgh this yr with this Penguins roster, and now, impulsively, we\u2019ve gone from \u201cOh, great story\u201d to \u201cthey might win a round of playoff hockey\u201d?<\/p>\n

Expectations Are That Evgeni Malkin Will Return Next Season<\/p>\n

Heck, possibly they might even challenge Carolina on that Metro side of the bracket. It\u2019s been fun to observe because all of us have a lot respect for Sid and Gino and all of the veteran players. Erik Karlsson, you need to throw in there, too. But how will you explain where we got to with this Penguins team, a team that was projected for 77 and a half points by oddsmakers before the season?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jim Biringer: \u201cYeah, I feel Dan Muse has to have a number of credit for this. I mean, how many individuals in Toronto want to provide Kyle Dubas his love and flowers? I’m. I feel the addition of Ben Kindel has been great for this team, youthful energy as we saw on the Island. But I feel Dan Muse really allowed these guys to play to their potential again. I feel it was just time to maneuver on from the Mike Sullivan era.<\/p>\n

And also you see it in Erik Karlsson\u2019s game. You\u2019re seeing these guys are having fun, but you never can discount a team that has Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, especially Crosby, I mean, this guy. I mean, what he\u2019s doing 21 seasons, point per game, unbelievable. Still going strong, still he could play till he\u2019s mid-40s, if he desired to. I mean, the best way he\u2019s playing immediately, one other Olympics wouldn\u2019t be out of the query for me. I mean, that\u2019s just my opinion it immediately.<\/p>\n

But I mean, Crosby\u2019s willingness. Anthony Mantha, again, great story for him, right? Profession season coming off the injuries, back to the guy everybody expected him to be. There are a number of profession seasons, but can that carry over to next yr?<\/p>\n

NHL Rumors: Status Quo for Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/p>\n

But again, the useful energy is there with the brand new coach; there\u2019s a belief within the room. Hey, it\u2019s us against the world. No person believed in us. Hey, why not go on the market, win a round, possibly get to a Conference Final? Would it not be that shocking, provided that they\u2019ve done it before?\u201d<\/p>\n

With the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> having three-time Stanley Cup Winners in Crosby, Malkin, and Kris Letang, they’ve a shot to maintain their run going. It should just come all the way down to goaltending. Not to say, can the Penguins recover from the first-round demons, having not won a round since 2018?<\/p>\n

But never discount any with the number 87 on it.<\/p>\n

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