Penguins head coach “disagrees strongly” on the embellishment call on Sidney Crosby in game 3:

“We don’t have a single embellishment all year. Sidney Crosby doesn’t have an embellishment in 21 seasons… I disagree on that strongly.”

Penguins Coach Dan Muse “Strongly Disagrees” With Embellishment Call on Sidney Crosby in Game 3

Tension boiled over after Game 3 as Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Muse didn’t hold back, saying he “strongly disagrees” with the controversial embellishment call on Sidney Crosby.

The penalty, called during a critical moment, quickly became a flashpoint. Crosby—known for his composure and reputation—was assessed embellishment, suggesting he exaggerated contact to draw a call. The decision stunned fans and sparked immediate backlash.

Muse made his stance clear postgame. He rejected the call outright, signaling frustration not just with the moment, but with how it may have impacted the game’s flow and momentum.

For the Penguins, it wasn’t just a penalty—it was a turning point.

Around the league, reactions poured in. Some defended the officials, arguing for stricter enforcement. Others questioned how a player of Crosby’s caliber ends up on the wrong side of that call.

One thing is certain: the controversy isn’t going away anytime soon.

The Philadelphia Flyers have an off day as they prepare for Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Flyers are looking for the sweep against the Penguins on Saturday.As the Flyers prepare for Game 4, Dan Vladar is not on the ice, and coach Rich Tocchet is explaining why, per Adam Kimelman of NHL.com.“It’s another maintenance day for him. Two days off is going to help him. That’s basically it for him. We’ll see how he is tomorrow,” Tocchet said.

This is a mirror of what the coach said just yesterday when the netminder was not on the ice.

“It’s more of a maintenance day. He was going to probably be off anyways, but he is a little banged up. Feels better today. That’s basically all the information I really have,” Tocchet said on Thursday.

Vladar suffered a right arm injury during the third period of Game 3. This happened when Penguins forward Bryan Rust made contact with the netminder in the crease during a powerplay. The game was paused for Vladar to receive medical attention, but he remained in the game.

The Philly netminder has been amazing in the series so far. He has stopped 71 of 75 shots, good for a .947 save percentage, while also having a goal-against average of just 1.33. He is fourth in both save percentage and goals-against average, behind Buffalo’s Alex Lyon, Carolina’s Frederik Andersen, and Colorado’s Scott Wedgewood. Both the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche are also in a position to make the sweep in the first round.

Game 4 is set for Saturday in Philadelphia with an 8:00 p.m. ET puck drop