Sidney Crosby has always played with intensity in the playoffs, especially against the Philadelphia Flyers. But one moment during the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Penguins and Flyers demonstrated the magnitude of their rivalry.

During the 2012 playoffs, the center got involved in a scrum and pushed away a glove that belonged to Flyers forward Jakub Voracek. 

It seemed a small incident, but quickly became a big talking point. After the game, reporters asked Crosby about the moment, and his response drew plenty of attention. He was specifically asked if the incident showed the Penguins' frustration.

“I don’t like any guy on their team. His glove was near me, he went to pick it up, and I pushed it,” Crosby said, as per ESPN.

The reporters continued to prod, but Crosby stood by his response. He refrained from elaborating on the situation. When told that he could have skated away, Crosby mentioned the playoff atmosphere and emotions.

“Skate away? OK, well, I didn’t that time. It’s the playoffs, and a lot of things happen out there from both sides. Everyone is guilty of it. Nobody is blaming anyone here. It’s heated out there, and that’s what the playoffs are like.”

A little later, Crosby revisited the moment and admitted that emotions were running high throughout the series.

“Guys are emotional, and there’s a lot of stuff going on out there. There’s no reason to explain. I don’t have to sit here and explain why I pushed a glove away.”

The moment captured the intensity of the Penguins-Flyers rivalry. In fact, the playoff series involved a total of 68 altercations and 309 penalty minutes.

The Flyers eventually walked away with a 4-2 series win.

A Rivalry Fueled by Intensity and Animosity

The Crosby-Voracek incident was just one of many heated moments in the series. Earlier in the matchup, fans saw the rare sight of Crosby and Claude Giroux involved in an altercation. The showdown quickly became one of the most memorable moments of the series.

Philadelphia coach Peter Laviolette was a big fan of the fight, saying it showcased the intensity and emotion of the rivalry.

“I thought it was great. In the end, that’s really playoff hockey, isn’t it?” Laviolette said. “A couple of the best players in the world dropping the gloves and going at it?”

The physical play was not limited to the star players. Flyers fans were upset after James Neal had a heated encounter with Sean Couturier. However, Neal said that there was no bad intent behind the scuffle.

“I didn’t even mean to h** him. I let up as much as I could, and it is what it is,” Neal said.

At the same time, Brayden Schenn downplayed his incident with Arron Asham, even though it sparked significant discussion and controversy.

“It was just a h**,” Schenn said. “That’s just his temper rising, nothing more than that.”

The incidents showed why the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers boast one of the NHL’s most intense rivalries. Having joined the league together in 1967, both teams represent the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

What are your thoughts? Are scuffles a reasonable outcome during intense showdowns? Comment down below.

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Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Sijo Paul