After Sidney Crosby's 50th goal vs. the Flyers, a former linemate recalls how that rivalry began

As the Penguins look to extend their winning streak to five games Thursday night in Canada against the Toronto Maple Leafs, many fans are still basking in the afterglow of Tuesday’s victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Not only was it an enjoyable 5-4 comeback win for the Metropolitan Division-leading Penguins over the last-place Flyers, but it was also yet another game in which Sidney Crosby played a role in vanquishing the franchise’s hated cross-state rivals.

The Penguins captain scored the club’s second goal of the night, which also marked the 500th of his future Hall of Fame career. As we’ve chronicled this week, that was one of many times Crosby has burned the Flyers during his time in Pittsburgh. It’s a rivalry that predates Crosby’s arrival in Pittsburgh by almost four decades. But it is also one that Crosby has augmented in the time since he came to town before the 2005-06 season.

During Tuesday’s game, Penguins radio and television analyst — and former Crosby linemate — Colby Armstrong recounted the tale of how that personal rivalry between Crosby and the Flyers truly began and his unique perspective of it.

The storyline of mutual disdain for Crosby and the Flyers dates back to Nov. 16, 2005 when Crosby made his second trip into the Wachovia Center. The Flyers had already beaten Crosby and the Penguins 6-5 in Philly a month earlier. But Crosby registered a goal and an assist.

This time, menacing defenseman Derian Hatcher and the Flyers seemed to have an agenda to physically welcome Crosby to the rivalry, as Hatcher cracked Crosby in the mouth twice with his stick, knocking out some of his teeth.

The penalties weren’t called, and Crosby got an unsportsmanlike conduct call for complaining. In the end, though, Crosby had the last laugh and won the game with an overtime goal. It was his second of the night as the Penguins brought a 3-2 win back to Pittsburgh.

Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock went on to label Crosby a whiner and a diver. Crosby went on to win three Stanley Cups, two scoring titles, two Conn Smythe Awards and a pair of Hart Trophies.

Armstrong, a former first-round choice of the Penguins, was still with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the AHL at the time. He had yet to be called up and eventually played on Crosby’s line as a winger.

Having skated with Crosby during just one camp that previous summer after Crosby was drafted No. 1 overall, Armstrong knew the 18-year-old phenom was going to be the real deal.

So on a whim, he and a Wilkes-Barre team trainer just decided to attend that game in Philadelphia as fans. No passes or team seating. They just got a few tickets at the last minute and made the short drive to Philadelphia to sit in the stands to watch what would be Crosby’s “Welcome to the NHL, Welcome to Flyers-Pens” moment.

During intermission after Crosby scored his 500th goal Tuesday, Armstrong recalled the story in the PPG Paints Arena press box.

“I was actually double-fisting beers in the stands. I’m not going to lie,” Armstrong laughed. “I got to see what the fans were all about sitting in the stands. The play-to-play jarring and jeering that goes on in Philly … I was hoping there were no (Philadelphia) Phantoms fans around us because the rivalry in the minors between teams was pretty good, too.”

Armstrong said despite the fans cheering as Crosby got shoved around by Hatcher, there was a moment of realization by the end of the game that Crosby was going to be a thorn in the side of the Flyers for a long time.

“His lips were bleeding. His helmet was tipped up on his head. His little hair was down on his forehead. But it was electric how he snuck away on a breakaway and scored (in overtime),” Armstrong remembered. “And I’ll never forget there was a guy in our section after Sid scored that goal. He stood up and he said, ‘I think we are going to have to get used to seeing a lot of this.’”

After 50 career goals against the Flyers, that guy seemed to be onto something.

“Pretty awesome one there, sitting there in the stands. A different perspective, right? A few months later, and I’m playing on his line,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong would end up with 16 goals and 40 points as a rookie. Crosby had 39 goals and 102 points, finishing second in the Calder Trophy balloting to Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin for Rookie of the Year.

Another Crosby rivalry that got started early in his career and has continued to thrive for the last 17 seasons.

Listen: Tim Benz and Penguins beat writer Seth Rorabaugh discuss Sidney Crosby’s 500th goal, Tuesday’s win over Philadelphia, the Penguins’ Thursday night showdown in Toronto, and a tough run of games for the Penguins through early March.