Philadelphia Flyers

Sidney Crosby aims for 500th career goal against Flyers — and, yes, it would be fitting

Published

2 years ago

February 14, 2022

Sam Carchidi

Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby

Throughout his amazing career, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby has been the ultimate Flyers-killer.

You could look it up.

In 78 games against the Philadelphia Flyers, Crosby has 49 goals, 117 points, and an 18.1% shooting percentage.

The 49 goals are the most he has scored against any NHL team. By far. His second-highest goal total (39) is against the New York Islanders.

And, so, yes, it would be fitting if he scored a goal to reach the 500 mark when the Penguins host the Flyers on Tuesday night.

Brian Page, who was paralyzed while playing for the Little #Flyers in November of 2020, gets a puck from classy ⁦@penguins⁩ captain Sidney Crosby. Video: Zack Hill. pic.twitter.com/JKwH328jRT

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) January 7, 2022

Crosby has always been a villain when he plays games at the Wells Fargo Center, but even Philly fans had good things to say about him when I posted the above video about his classy gesture last month on Twitter.

Tweeted Flyers fan @joeclancy65: “I might have to stop booing him so much. Cool move.”

Throughout most of his Hall-of-Fame career, Crosby has been Public Enemy No. 1 to Flyers fans. It had more to do with his whining to officials – especially when he was younger – than his scoring against Philly.

Crosby also didn’t make himself a Philadelphia favorite when he answered a question I asked him during the 2012 playoffs. His answer went viral, and even started a cottage T-shirt industry.

In Game 3 of the Flyers’ 8-4 win over the Penguins, Crosby, then 24, went out of his way to antagonize Flyers winger Jake Voracek during the first period. Voracek’s glove had fallen to the ice during a scrum. Crosby then reached around Voracek and knocked away the glove just as the Flyer was about to pick it up.

After the game, Crosby was asked if the move was stirred by his frustration.

“I don’t like any guy on their team,” he replied. “His glove was near me and he went to pick it up, so I pushed it. I don’t like him.”

Any particular reason?

“Because I don’t like him,” he snapped. “I don’t like any guy on that team.”

Ah, I miss those days, when this rivalry was really percolating.

Back then, the Flyers’ marketing department was inspired by Crosby’s antics, creating orange T-shirts that were handed out at the next game. They read: Guess What? We don’t like you either!

The Penguins (30-11-8) are now atop the Metropolitan Division, while the injury-ravaged Flyers (15-24-8) are dead last, and no one expects Crosby to show as much emotion in Tuesday’s mismatch.

But almost everyone expects him to score his 500^th goal that night.