Penguins celebrate the start of a new era while paying tribute to Crosby, Malkin and Letang

NEW YORK (AP) — Dan Muse was very intentional when he chose the Pittsburgh Penguins' starting lineup on opening night.

Their new coach made sure to get Ben Kindel and Harrison Brunicke out there for their NHL debuts. With them, he chose Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, who have been teammates for the past two decades and were making some history.

“We had three guys that have been playing together for 20 years, and I thought it was important that they get to start that game together,” Muse said. "It kind of worked out well to be able to do that.”

Just about everything worked out at the beginning of a new era for the Penguins, who got Muse a victory in his first game behind their bench by beating old coach Mike Sullivan and the New York Rangers 3-0 on Tuesday night.

Crosby, Malkin and Letang became the first trio in the four major North American men’s professional sports leagues to play 20 seasons together with the same team. During that time, they've won the Stanley Cup three times.

On the ice during the national anthem, a lot of different thoughts about that tenure went through Crosby's mind.

“To be sharing 20 years with Geno and Tanger and having played this long together, it’s so rare,” Crosby said. "Just grateful that we can be in this situation, and we’re still competing and still doing it.”

Kindel and Brunicke at 18 and 19, respectively, hadn't even been born yet when Crosby, Malkin and Letang started their journey together. Crosby marveled at the age gap between him and his longtime running mates and a couple of fresh-faced players not even old enough to legally drink alcohol in the U.S.

His message to them was to enjoy the moment.

“It’s been a while, but I still remember my first game and the emotions and it’s always fun to see that and to be a part of that with other guys,” Crosby said. "It was fun to be out there with them to start there. It makes you realize how long you’ve been around when you’re standing next to some of these guys.”

Muse was standing not far from what used to be his usual spot. He spent the previous two seasons as a Rangers assistant under Peter Laviolette, before taking over the Penguins when they parted ways with Sullivan.

Crosby felt Muse prepared the team well to get off to a good start. With a long season ahead, that's all they're considering this first win.

“We’ve got to enjoy it tonight, turn the page and back to work,” Muse said. "I’m really happy for the guys. ... You always want to start things off on the right foot.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) checks New York Rangers right wing Taylor Raddysh (14) off the puck in the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin and J.T. Miller (8) defend a shot by Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs (37) is congratulated by teammates after defeating the New York Rangers in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Justin Brazeau (16) is congratulated by Evgeni Malkin (71) after scoring a goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon (28) celebrates with teammates after defeating the New York Rangers in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

WENGEN, Switzerland (AP) — Marco Odermatt already has no equals on the World Cup skiing circuit.

Now the Swiss star is unmatched in the biggest event on home snow, too.

Odermatt dominated a shortened race Saturday to set up his fourth career downhill victory in Wengen — breaking a tie for the most downhill victories on the famed Lauberhorn course with Franz Klammer and Beat Feuz.

Austrian standout Klammer claimed his three Wengen downhill wins in the 1970s while Feuz, another Swiss skier, claimed his third victory in 2020.

What’s more is that Odermatt’s four wins have come in succession.

Odermatt finished a massive 0.79 seconds ahead of Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr and 0.90 ahead of Italy's Giovanni Franzoni, who claimed his first career victory in Friday's super-G.

Strong winds prompted organizers to drastically shorten the course — making the narrow and tactical “Kernen S” section the key to the race. Odermatt mastered the section perfectly and carried away a faster speed on the exit than anyone else.

Franjo von Allmen and Alexis Money, two other Swiss skiers, finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Von Allmen, the world champion in downhill last season, took a riskier approach and skied into a television camera lining the course inside the “S” section. Then he crashed in the finish area — although appeared unhurt.

Dominik Paris of Italy was sixth after registering the top speed at 151.57 kph (94 kph).

It’s the first of the two weekends at the circuit’s classic venues, with Kitzbuehel, Austria, up next. Then the focus will switch to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy — with the men to ski in Bormio.

Odermatt won gold in giant slalom at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and will be favored to win multiple medals at the upcoming Games.

Overall, it was Odermatt’s 52nd World Cup victory, moving him within two wins of matching Hermann Maier for third place on the all-time men’s list. He's also got a massive lead in the standings as he chases a fifth consecutive overall World Cup title.

Odermatt immediately knew he had done something special again, screaming with delight in the finish area and waving to the crowd, which was made up almost entirely of fans waving Swiss flags.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen crashes at the finish area of an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Wengen, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)

Spectators gather to follow an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill race, in Wengen, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt reacts in the finish area during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill race, in Wengen, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Peter Schneider/Keystone via AP)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Wengen, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt reacts in the finish area during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill race, in Wengen, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Peter Schneider/Keystone via AP)