Penguins' Crosby liked Bautista's Game 5 bat flip

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby was impressed by the Toronto Blue Jays' baseball playoff win Wednesday, including Jose Bautista's emphatic bat flip.

"You've got 50,000 people there at home, with a home run like that, I think that's just pure emotion," Crosby told the Penguins website Thursday. "I don't think he was trying to show anybody up or anything like that. We've all been in different situations, but that was pretty exciting.

"I think if there was a time for one, that would probably be the one."

#BatFlip forever on loop. #OwnOctober https://t.co/bGMRSvGVwL

— MLB (@MLB) October 14, 2015

Bautista's three-run homer in the seventh inning helped Toronto defeat the Texas Rangers 6-3 and win the American League Division Series in five games. The Blue Jays will play the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series, with the winner advancing to the World Series.

Nazem Kadri was one of a dozen Toronto Maple Leafs at the game at Rogers Centre.

"I was actually sitting right there and almost caught the ball, to be honest," Kadri told the National Post. "It was definitely fun. And the whole stadium erupted. I felt like the roof was going to collapse for a second.”

Teammate Nick Spaling was sitting close enough to try to catch it.

“We were at the railing, so I didn’t want to fall over,” Spaling said. “That would have been a nice ball to catch. I missed it. I blew my shot.”

Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said, “Obviously, pretty exciting for the city of Toronto and Canada. It’s a huge, huge deal. Great for our city and great for our players to feel how excited the fans actually get when you put together a winner. You want to be part of winning. It’s more fun and it makes you dig in harder and makes you not want to accept anything less.

"I thought it was a great event for our players to be at."

The Blue Jays' late-season surge and playoff run has drawn the attention of many NHL players.

"I watched the game yesterday and I'd be celebrating if I were them too," Crosby said. "That's a pretty incredible game."

Congrats @BlueJays on winning the ALDS! @JoeyBats19 if you could get your bat that landed on the Air Canada Centre roof, that'd be great.

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 14, 2015

Half of the @SanJoseSharks are an emotional mess. Thank you @BlueJays! Thank you

— Logan Couture (@Logancouture) October 14, 2015

.@BlueJays! Congrats on an amazing series! #ComeTogether #OwnOctober

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) October 14, 2015