The Villains: The Enemy who Saved a Franchise

You can argue Crosby is a player who is a villain to any team and that's probably a little bit true-any player with superstar talent is going to get an extra shove from time to time. but in the last 20 years for the orange and black, there is truly no bigger enemy than No. 87.

Crosby is the epidemy of everything the Philadelphia sports fans love to hate. His tendency to dive and draw penalties from the referees, his skill in the Pens sweater and of course that complaining that comes during and after a game.

November 16th was the date of the introduction and welcoming between the Flyers and Sidney Crosby and the venue was at the then-Wachovia Center. First Flyer up was Derian Hatcher gave a big not-so-warm welcome to Crosby by knocking out two of his teeth with a stick to the mouth. Another high-stick came later in the game and a young 18-year-old Crosby displayed his complaints to the refs, which led to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

To put the cherry on top, he went ahead and netted the overtime game-winner on former goaltender Antero Nittymaki in overtime.

His three Stanley Cups, 10-plus awards, eight All-Star appearances and numerous seasons leading the league in offense all speak for that � but the success he's been able to have against the Flyers is some of the best in his career. Throughout his 15 years in Pittsburgh, Crosby has scored more goals against the Flyers than he has against any other team, and also has the second-most points against the Flyers than he does against any other team in his career. Crosby netted his 500th career goal and it so happen to be against the Flyers.

Sidney Crosby tonight scored his 500th career goal in the regular season

50th goal against the Flyers in the regular season, by far the most against any opponent

pic.twitter.com/HF6azX9X2U� John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) February 16, 2022

Crosby once complained that the Wells Fargo Center is a vicious atmosphere, not a fun atmosphere. After a game against the Flyers in 2012, Crosby was quoted with this infamous quote

The fans feed off of that.

There is no bigger villain to the Flyers than Sidney Crosby.