The Pittsburgh Penguins have clawed back into this series with two straight wins, finally finding the rhythm that eluded them in the opening games. In Game 5, that turnaround showed through crisp puck movement and a more disciplined defensive structure that limited chances. Still, the win ended on a sour note when a Flyers winger delivered a high, cheap cross-check to the back of Sidney Crosby, drawing immediate backlash.
This moment has raised a player safety concern, as a prominent Penguins insider called out the play and demanded accountability with Game 6 approaching.
Insider Criticizes Travis Konecny’s Late Cross-Check on Sidney Crosby
Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny is in the spotlight after a post-buzzer cross-check on Crosby, a play that drew strong criticism from Penguins insider Josh Yohe. Crosby, who played a crucial role in Monday’s 3-2 win, took the hit from behind after the final whistle, which led to a brief scrum between the two teams.
Yohe addressed the incident directly on X, writing, “It’s a nasty series and both teams have crossed lines. But no one has been cheaper/more dirty in this series than Konecny, whose cross check of Crosby after the game had ended was clear intent to injure.” He also pointed to an earlier sequence in the series, adding, “Earlier in this series, Konecny tried to kick Rust. Very dirty player.”
The play occurred after the horn, when players are expected to disengage rather than initiate contact. Officials recorded the sequence as a cross-checking infraction in the post-game summary, but the lack of an in-game penalty or immediate escalation left the response limited to league review discussions.
This was not the only physical moment involving Crosby in the series. Luke Glendening received a 2-minute penalty for a cross-check in Game 4, while Garnet Hathaway’s high stick in Game 3 resulted in a rare embellishment call against Crosby.
The repeated contact highlights how Philadelphia has targeted the Penguins captain in high-traffic areas.
Despite this, Crosby has remained effective. In Game 5, he recorded 2 assists, including a primary setup on Connor Dewar’s goal that gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead. He briefly left the ice after blocking a shot with his knee, but returned and continued to drive play.
Pittsburgh’s overall structure in Game 5 showed clearer adjustments. Kris Letang scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period, using a point shot that deflected unpredictably. Goaltender Arturs Silovs handled key chances late, while the defense limited second opportunities in the final minutes.
Philadelphia still managed to respond through Alex Bump and Travis Sanheim, tying the game at 2-2 before Letang’s winner. However, the Penguins controlled the pace better compared to earlier games, reducing high-risk turnovers and maintaining cleaner exits.
The series now sits at 3-2 in favor of the Flyers, with Game 6 set in Philadelphia. Pittsburgh needs another disciplined performance to extend the series, while also managing the rising physical plays against their captain.
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