A Conversation with Enemy Lines: Interview with Josh Yohe from the Athletic on Pens/Flyers
PUBLICATION
FrankieAugust 29, 2022 (11:12 PM)
Sometimes Flyers and Penguins fans, and journalists for that matter, can be kind to each other. It's more than the rival, it's about understanding and respecting the opinions and the game itself.
There hasn't been a bigger rival then the Flyers verse Penguins between hockey clubs in sometime. I had the privilege to sit down with Josh Yohe, Pitsburgh Penguins beat writer for the Athletic. We had a great conversation on the rival, the future of the teams, John Tortorella and much more about the Penguins and Flyers.
Just for the record, he had nothing but good things to say about the fans here in Philadelphia-haha.
The Flyers, Pens rival was always a good one, going back to that 2012 series in the playoffs. What was the series like covering it as a journalist and even as a fan?
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I been covering the penguins for 15 years, they made the playoffs every year, so close to 30 seasons. That playoff series in 2012 is probably the most memorable one. The Flyers win it in six games, and history be told but the Penguins were probably the best team in the league that year. Flyers come in and win the series, i don't think the Penguins took the Flyers that serious and they paid for it
Josh also had mentioned how upset Crosby was after that 2012 series and that they will never lose to the Flyers in the playoffs again. Here is that take.
After that series, I look over at Sidney Crosby and he was just fuming. I talk to him for a minute, and he was just mumbling things, i guess he was mumblings about how he does not like Philadelphia, and he does not like the team. He looks over at me and says "We will never lose again in a playoff series to them
The next time the Flyers played the Penguins in a series, Crosby had 13 points in 6 games.
On May 13, 2021, you wrote an article talking about the friendship between Geno and Crosby. How close are they and how important is their friendship to the team and game?
They always had one another's backs from the very beginning. They always understood each other in a certain way. The pressure wasn't on Malkin like it was Crosby, but they were both teenagers and bonded immediately. Ya know, they both come family-oriented places and blue-collar town and Pittsburgh was just the perfect place for them to come to. They never gotten into a fight or disagreement. There is a famous story that when Crosby was out hurt, some of the veterans wanted to change the captain temporary and Malkin went over and said "That is expletive expletive stupid. Sids the captain" and then walked out. He always has his back, and they are a lot closer than they think
Josh was kind enough to tell us a story about Eric Lindros and Concussions, here it is.
I called him about 2-3 months after Crosby's big concussion in the winter classic when David Steckel used the shoulder to the head. I did a story about Lindros and got his number and called him. Lindros said to me that he was watching the game with his wife and when he saw the look on Crosby's face, not to mention he came back in third period to play, he looked at his wife and so "Oh God, there something not right with him, i know that look" Lindros identified it right away, it brought flashbacks to him.
Ovechkin or Crosby, I Take Crosby every time
I'm glad you mention the Crosby and Ovechkin, it's not a knock-on Ovechkin, i think he breaks Gretzky's record and hope that he does. Over the years there has been this comparison that the two are equal, i don't see it that way, i don't even think it's close.
You are still watching Marc Andre Fleury play right now. He is a Hall of Fam goaltender. What was it like having him in the building and what did he mean to the Penguins?
God, i miss him every day of my life. He is the funniest athlete i have ever covered and never not smiling. What you see in him when he is smiling and laughing, and on TV and in interviews, that's him. When season had ended, and it was his final season. There was a line of 20 of us, single file, just to say goodbye to him.
.It was a great time talking with Josh. He had great things to say. Also mentioned how Carter Hart could be the guy and to just be patient. Want to thank Josh for his time and be sure to give him a follow-on Twitter @JoshYohe_PGH.
To see the full interview, check out IceTalk Live here.
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