Sidney Crosby booed by enraged fans as Oilers outclass Penguins in UGLY 2-7 loss, NHL Twitter reacts

Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid's showdown go horribly wrong as the Penguins continue their losing streak in the 2022-23 season.

<strong>Sidney Crosby booed by enraged fans as Oilers outclass Penguins in UGLY 2-7 loss, NHL Twitter reacts</strong>

Sidney Crosby [Image Credit: The Athletic]

Starting off with the “Fire Hextall” chants, the enraged crowd at PPG Paints Arena turned heads to Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby. The fans didn’t shy away from booing the captain and his team as they embarrassingly fell to Edmonton Oilers in a 2-7 loss.

The showdown ultimately came between two team captains, Crosby and Connor McDavid, and the latter came out victorious. The Oilers showed the reigning Pens their difference in skill, at least for now in NHL. McDavid pushed up his career-best to 46 goals, drilling 2 shots in Thursday’s game. 

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Crosby on the other hand failed to outshine the 26-year captain. McDavid as NHL’s leading scorer skid past through star goalies, Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith, boosting the Oilers to their advantage. The Penguins’ defense helplessly crumbled as Oilers soared high with enthusiasm.

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Related: “Best players in the world” – Stuart Skinner in awe of Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid as LEGENDS take on ice at PPG Paints Arena

Sidney Crosby vs. Connor McDavid showdown goes horribly wrong with Pens’ falling victim to Oilers

Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid [Image Credit: The Score]
Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid [Image Credit: The Score]

Prior to the devastating match, the fans were enthusiastic to watch the showdown between Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. Instead of a heated faceoff, they got to witness the difference between the two teams. The favored Hart Trophy winner and his team scored and outclassed the once-great Penguins in their own domain.

In the second period chants of “Fire Hextall” began only to go in rounds two and three later in the third period. The Penguins kept chasing the Oilers as McDavid outdid Kris Letang, setting up Nugent-Hopkins’ goal with 1:06 remaining in 2nd period.

The enraged fans blasted Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, as both NHL leaders failed to protect the team and play their best. Crosby commented on the crowd jeering, “I’ve heard boos before”. “It’s not something that happens very often.” 

“You definitely don’t want to hear that. It was a tough night for everybody.” “They can act however they want”. “They paid for their ticket, and they want to see better.” Head coach Mike Sullivan called out the team saying they just went a whole step back with no progress made.

Though severe changes in the Penguins lineup are needed, the team management seems glued on believing they are still in their best form. Ron Hextall refused to make any lineup changes, or go for trade prior March deadline stating, “We like our team”. Unfortunately, his positivity is not shared by the team or the fans. 

According to HockeyFeed, on Wednesday, Crosby said after their practice, “It’s just a matter of working a little bit harder”. “A little bit smarter.” Sullivan noted, “We feel like we’ve carried the play for significant periods of time, even in the third periods”. 

“It’s not like we’re under siege. I think — and this is a conversation we’ve had with the players — that it’s just critical moments, or breakdowns at the wrong times, and they’ve ended up in the back of our net, most recently.”

“I would (characterize) that as ‘game management,’ and that’s the area where I think we can improve. … I think that’s an important part of learning how to win — managing the game at particular moments that have a tendency to swing the outcomes.”

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