What Happened
Sidney Crosby opened his 22nd NHL season by helping the Pittsburgh Penguins rout the Philadelphia Flyers 7-0 on Wednesday. After absorbing an open-ice hit from Rasmus Ristolainen, Crosby regained the puck, moved to high ice, passed to Kris Letang, and watched the play finish with Nick Robertson's goal that started the scoring. The 39-year-old captain, who owns an NHL-record 21 point-per-game seasons, remains the centre of Pittsburgh's attack.
Key Details
- Penguins beat the Flyers 7-0 on Wednesday's opening night.
- Crosby is 39 and playing his 22nd NHL season.
- Crosby holds the NHL record with 21 point-per-game seasons.
- Rasmus Ristolainen delivered an open-ice hit on Crosby before the opening goal.
- Kris Letang and Nick Robertson combined on the goal that began the rout.
- Teammate Declan Carlile said Crosby keeps getting better.
What It Means
Crosby's opening-night performance reinforces that Pittsburgh's offence still runs through its longtime captain, even at 39. The 7-0 result gives the Penguins a strong start and suggests Crosby remains capable of driving the team toward success in another season, while opponents like Philadelphia continue to struggle against him.