Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust Sound Off on Penguins-Flyers Fight in Game 3, 'WWE Match'

Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust took issue with the officials' handling of a second-period scrum during a 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday.

With Philly trailing 1-0 early in the second period, a melee took place, highlighted by Flyers forward Travis Konecny elbowing Rust, which prompted Rust to wrestle Konecny to the ice.

All 10 players on the ice were assessed penalties, but the Flyers came away with a power play because Rust was assessed an extra two-minute penalty for roughing.

Philadelphia cashed in with a power-play goal by Trevor Zegras, which was the first of three consecutive goals by the Flyers en route to victory.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Rust compared the fracas to a wrestling match and expressed confusion over why he was given an extra penalty.

"The game turned into a bit of a WWE match in the second period," Rust said. "They fed off that and they were able to capitalize. ... I got elbowed, so I just kind of locked him, took him to the ground. He tried to kick me. We threw a couple punches back and forth. Not sure why I got an extra two [minutes]."

Crosby echoed Rust's sentiments, saying, "It kind of turned into a bit of a circus there. I'm not sure why they decided to put five guys in the box on each side. I felt like that kind of changed a lot of the momentum. It took a long time. Obviously, we didn't get the kill. Felt like they fed off that."

Pens defenseman Erik Karlsson was also unsure why he was given a penalty and why everyone on the ice was penalized, noting that it was something he had "never seen in my 17 years" in the NHL.

Pittsburgh was on the ropes entering Game 3, down 2-0 in the series, but it got off to a strong start Wednesday, as Evgeni Malkin provided a 1-0 lead in the first period.

The Penguins were never able to rebound from the Flyers surging to a 3-1 lead in the second period, though, and they are now in a 3-0 series hole and one loss away from elimination.

Pittsburgh will attempt to extend the series Saturday when it faces the Flyers in Game 4 in Philadelphia.