Two hockey teams that refused to back down battled last night in Philadelphia, but it was the Flyers who came out on top and moved on to the second round.
Paul Steigerwald recaps an overtime loss in Game Six.
Coach Dan Muse was proud of his team for the way they fought back from a 3-0 series deficit, and in front of the hostile Philadelphia crowd last night.
Speculation on the future of the Penguins’ “Big Three” – Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang – is already rampant. Crosby is under contract for one more season, Letang for two more, and Malkin’s contract is expiring this season. They are the longest-tenured trio of teammates in North American sports history, with twenty seasons together.
Muse says as much as the three have meant to the Penguins, they might still be underrated.
Crosby, Malkin, and Letang have played 3,924 games together, scored 3,974 points, 1,365 goals, and won three Stanley Cups. Crosby said last night he hopes they all come back next season.
Crosby says the Pens never stopped believing in themselves.
Crosby says the Penguins had a good year, but could have done even better.
In addition to Malkin’s expiring contract, the Penguins could lose a number of other free agents, including high-scoring winger Anthony Mantha, who will be an unrestricted free agent. Other UFAs include forwards Noel Acciari, Connor Dewar, and Kevin Hayes, defensemen Ryan Shea, Connor Clifton, and Ilya Solovyov, and goaltender Stu Skinner. Restricted free agents include forwards Egor Chinakhov and Ville Koivunen, and goaltender Arturs Silovs.
