For the Big Three, one last chance to have a first

Q: What historic achievement are Crosby, Malkin, and Letang pursuing?

They are aiming to win three consecutive games while facing elimination, a feat they have never accomplished together.

Q: How many Stanley Cups have the Penguins' Big Three won?

The Penguins' Big Three have won three Stanley Cups during their careers.

Q: What is the significance of the Penguins being down 0-3 in the series?

Being down 0-3 puts the Penguins in a challenging position, as historically, very few teams recover from such a deficit to win the series.

Q: What did Sidney Crosby say about the team's situation?

Crosby emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that it's 'win or go home' and that this desperation has brought out their best hockey.

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 25: Ron Francis, Evgeni Malkin #71, Sidney Crosby #87, Kevin Stevens, Kris Letang #58, Scotty Bowman and Eddie Johnston pose for a photo during the Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Fame induction prior to the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 25, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang have just about done it all over the last 20 years. Of course, they have the three Stanley Cups. All those Conn Smythe’s that come along with it. Crosby recently crossed into the top-5 for NHL playoff scoring. Malkin has the most playoff points of any Russian. In a world where it’s very hard to win (note the celebrated career of Anze Kopitar ended with his advancing out of the first round just three times during his 20 years), the Penguins 105 playoff wins are the most since the 2003-04 lockout. Finding new ground to tread at this point of their illustrious careers is difficult, but they have a chance tonight to achieve something that the trio has never done: win three games in a row while facing elimination. The Penguin franchise has won three games facing elimination before – most notably in the 1992 opening round series against the — the current Big Three has not. The Pens have had some series comebacks in this era, they erased an 0-2 hole to Washington in 2009 and a 2-3 deficit against the in the Stanley Cup Final. They also pulled a gutsy comeback from a 2-3 series against Tampa in the 2016 Eastern Conference Final. Despite that, they’ve never won three-straight games while facing elimination, their only chance coming in 2012 when they failed to do it in Game 6 against . They’ll get that opportunity tonight in Game 6 against the Flyers to get it right this time. They’ll hope after that to go all the way for the rare ‘reverse sweep’, a talking point and opportunity that must be earned today. Surely the plan for the Penguins wasn’t to fall in an 0-3 hole that ever end up recovering from, but they’ve found an opportunity to have a ‘first’ for perhaps the last time when it comes to making a historic comeback and put their names with the few teams in history to dig all the way out. “I think that it’s quite clear, the situation for us. It’s win or go home, so I think that urgency, that desperation, whatever you want to call it, I think is brought out in everybody,” said. “It’s brought some of our best hockey because of it. We’ve just got to keep going here.” Crosby, naturally, has been at the forefront of the comeback effort by posting two multi-point games in the two wins the team needed to get to start tipping the scales and pressure back the other way. “It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone in this room,” coach Dan Muse after Game 5. “When things get hard, when backs are against the wall, there’s no doubt in my mind that [Crosby is] going to do everything possible to help this team win a hockey game.” Letang, who celebrated his 39th birthday during the series, is also giving it his all and tipping the scales. His minutes are up and he’s come through with two goals that have stood as game winners. That turnaround from his rocky early part of the series has made a huge difference in keeping the team’s chances alive. Malkin, still facing contract uncertainty if the Pens will offer him a contract for next season, was the team’s best player in the early part of the series, scoring two goals and adding an assist in the first three games in efforts to get the Pens on track. Fourth liner had one of the most poignant quotes following Game 5 that speaks to the mindset of the group. “We’re just fighting to stay together,” Dewar . “Every win is a few more days together. We’re going to scratch and claw as long as we can.” Stay alive for a couple more games and days and the 2025-26 Penguins just might be able to achieve something that even the illustrious Big Three has yet to accomplish in terms of winning the most games with their backs to the wall.