PHILADELPHIA — Sidney Crosby stated his intentions on the first shift.

On the day he officially became the longest-tenured captain in NHL history and the longest-tenured athlete in Pittsburgh sports history, Crosby crushed Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny along the boards 15 seconds into the Penguins’ season opener.

His team followed suit.

The Penguins routed the Flyers, 7-0, in the season opener for both teams at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Wednesday. Pittsburgh exacted revenge for Philadelphia’s victory in their first-round playoff series in April.

A year ago, the Penguins pulled off a season-opening upset in Madison Square Garden on their way to a stunning return to the playoffs

Pittsburgh sent an even stronger message in this year’s opener. Dan Muse’s team dominated every facet and got goals from six different players — including every member of the makeshift third line.

New winger Nick Robertson had two tallies in his Penguins debut, Filip Hallander had three points in his return from a blood clot that ended his 2025-26 season and Arturs Silovs had a 19-save shutout for Pittsburgh.

It all started with a flawless first period, led by Crosby.

About seven minutes into his 22nd season (and just after he took a big hit from Rasmus Ristolainen), Crosby passed the puck along the blue line to Kris Letang, who fired it toward the net. Robertson deftly deflected it past Dan Vladar for the first goal of the season.

Outside of one meager power play, Pittsburgh looked good in just about every facet in the first 20 minutes. Ville Koivunen added to the lead with a goal so nice some fans might have deleted summer posts about his $32 million contract.

Sam Girard launched Koivunen on a breakaway with a beautiful pass. The 23-year-old winger then put a nasty move on Vladar and slid the puck five-hole to make it 2-0 Penguins.

They were just getting started.

Pittsburgh’s second power play of the game was again going nowhere, surrendering a couple of shorthanded chances, before Hendrix Lapierre found Evgeni Malkin for a one-timer to make it 3-0 Penguins.

And less than two minutes later, Lapierre soared into the Flyers zone off a quick pass from Hallander and snapped a shot past Vladar to continue the dream start for Pittsburgh.

With the Penguins’ injuries and absences to start the season, Hallander, Lapierre and Koivunen were pressed into action as a surprise third line. None of them were locks to make the roster out of camp.

But all three found the back of the net Wednesday. About midway through the second period, Hallander located a loose puck in front of the net and knocked it in for a 5-0 Penguins lead.

At one point early in the third period, Pittsburgh was outshooting Philadelphia, 30-12.

Robertson was credited with his second goal of the night — and Hallander with his third point — on a shorthanded tally with about eight minutes to go. He put the puck into Vladar’s skates, and the Flyers goalie did the rest, knocking it into the net to put the Penguins up by a touchdown.

And Egor Chinakhov tacked on the extra point when he tipped in an Erik Karlsson shot on the power play.

Silovs shut out the New York Rangers in last season’s opener. He repeated the feat about 90 miles southwest this season. He didn’t have to make many spectacular saves. But the young netminder was steady throughout.

Around the boards

— Blake Lizotte was activated from injured reserve before the game and centered the Penguins’ fourth line.

— Ben Kindel and Bryan Rust, both on injured reserve and considered week-to-week, skated in non-contact jerseys at Wednesday’s morning skate.

Up next

The Penguins return to PPG Paints Arena for the home opener 7 p.m. ET Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.

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