Philadelphia Flyers coach Rick Tocchet spoke about what the rivalry with the Pittsburgh Penguins means to him. As his team prepares to face the Penguins on Tuesday, he shared his thoughts on one of the NHL’s most competitive matchups.“You know, it’s a great rivalry over the years," Tocchet told reporters. "I’ve lived it. "Both great cities, you know, had their share of success either way. And you know, there's a lot of, I hate using the word hate, but there's a lot of, you know, which is good, you know. I think rivals should be that way. They're intense"The Flyers have started the season with a 4-3-1 record, and their strong defense and penalty kill have been important factors. Saturday's 4-3 shootout win over the New York Islanders showed how much fight the team has.Meanwhile, the Penguins are off to one of the best starts in the league with a 7-2-1 record. Their success has been driven by veterans Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who continue to perform at a high level. Crosby recently reached 1,700 career points, a rare milestone that puts him among the game’s legends. Malkin has also been sharp, posting 16 points in 10 games.Tocchet praised both players for the consistency they’ve shown over their long careers.“Sid has said, you know, he’s having a great year,” Tocchet said. “Malkin, I was told, really worked hard this summer. You can tell. Give the coach a lot of credit. They’re believing in what they’re doing and coming up with timely goals.”Crosby, who is now 38, still plays at an elite level with seven goals and seven assists in 10 games. He’s been an important part of Pittsburgh’s power play, scoring three goals with the man advantage. Crosby's consistency has helped the team stay near the top of the Metropolitan Division.Having coached the Penguins before, Tocchet understands what makes them highly competitive year after year.Josh Yohe says Penguins GM Kyle Dubas won’t change his plan despite Sidney Crosby’s strong startNHL insider Josh Yohe said Sidney Crosby’s strong play won’t change Kyle Dubas’ plan to make the Penguins younger. Even with the center leading the team early this season, Dubas is focused on the future and won’t rush to make short-term moves. Yohe highlighted on Monday that Dubas won’t give in.“Everyone I have spoken with, however, tells me that Dubas isn’t going to budge,” Yohe wrote, via The Athletic.He described Dubas as calm and focused, even if some people don’t agree with him. Yohe added that the team president talks often with Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson. However, he will still follow his plan to build a stronger long-term team instead of chasing quick results.
Flyers HC Rick Tocchet makes his feelings known about ‘intense’ rivalry with Sidney Crosby’s Penguins
Philadelphia Flyers coach Rick Tocchet spoke about what the rivalry with the Pittsburgh Penguins means to him. As his team prepares to face the Penguins on Tuesday, he shared his thoughts on one of the NHL’s most competitive matchups.“You know, it’s a great rivalry over the years," Tocchet told reporters. "I’ve lived it. "Both great cities, you know, had their share of success either way. And you know, there's a lot of, I hate using the word hate, but there's a lot of, you know, which is good, you know. I think rivals should be that way. They're intense"The Flyers have started the season with a 4-3-1 record, and their strong defense and penalty kill have been important factors. Saturday's 4-3 shootout win over the New York Islanders showed how much fight the team has.Meanwhile, the Penguins are off to one of the best starts in the league with a 7-2-1 record. Their success has been driven by veterans Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who continue to perform at a high level. Crosby recently reached 1,700 career points, a rare milestone that puts him among the game’s legends. Malkin has also been sharp, posting 16 points in 10 games.Tocchet praised both players for the consistency they’ve shown over their long careers.“Sid has said, you know, he’s having a great year,” Tocchet said. “Malkin, I was told, really worked hard this summer. You can tell. Give the coach a lot of credit. They’re believing in what they’re doing and coming up with timely goals.”Crosby, who is now 38, still plays at an elite level with seven goals and seven assists in 10 games. He’s been an important part of Pittsburgh’s power play, scoring three goals with the man advantage. Crosby's consistency has helped the team stay near the top of the Metropolitan Division.Having coached the Penguins before, Tocchet understands what makes them highly competitive year after year.Josh Yohe says Penguins GM Kyle Dubas won’t change his plan despite Sidney Crosby’s strong startNHL insider Josh Yohe said Sidney Crosby’s strong play won’t change Kyle Dubas’ plan to make the Penguins younger. Even with the center leading the team early this season, Dubas is focused on the future and won’t rush to make short-term moves. Yohe highlighted on Monday that Dubas won’t give in.“Everyone I have spoken with, however, tells me that Dubas isn’t going to budge,” Yohe wrote, via The Athletic.He described Dubas as calm and focused, even if some people don’t agree with him. Yohe added that the team president talks often with Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson. However, he will still follow his plan to build a stronger long-term team instead of chasing quick results.
