Fans accuse Penguins Sidney Crosby of being extremely dirty in season opener

Sidney Crosby is being called out for playing a very dirty game against the New York Rangers in the Penguins blowout 6-0 loss.

In front of a raucous crowd, the New York Rangers outclassed the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins en route to a dominant 4-0 lead by the end of the second period of their home opener in 2024-25. The Penguins never seemed able to get the constant Ranger attack under control, and the depth of New York was on full display as four different players scored in the contest. Frustration quickly mounted for Pittsburgh, especially for their captain, Sidney Crosby.

In one moment of visible frustration, Crosby lashed out with a reckless cross-check on Rangers' star forward Mika Zibanejad. The ill-advised move would send Crosby to the penalty box and give the Rangers a power-play opportunity. It seemed to encapsulate a disastrous start for the Penguins during which Crosby started to lose his cool.

The fans in Pittsburgh weren't bashful. As Crosby sat in the penalty box, accusations of dirty play flooded social media and arenas alike. Earlier in the game, Crosby had another heated exchange with Rangers rookie Victor Mancini after the two got tangled near the New York net. Crosby was caught chirping and even taking a swing at Mancini with his stick, which only fueled the narrative that the Penguins' captain was losing his composure.

This was a pretty rough start that raised serious questions for both the Penguins and their captain. Goaltender Tristan Jarry struggled mightily in the net to add to Pittsburgh's woes. Meanwhile, there was speculation from fans whether Crosby was regretting already his decision to extend his contract in Pittsburgh given the rocky start of the new campaign. His frustration was very noticeable; it clearly showed something much bigger, a dissatisfaction with this result.

As the Penguins regroup from this crushing home opener, all eyes remain on Sidney Crosby and, more importantly, his leadership. While the season remains young, if the club continues to sputter, one can imagine that the whispers of regret and frustration might grow louder in the Steel City locker room. Crosby's ability to right the ship could determine the Penguins' fate moving forward.

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