Pittsburgh Penguins face off against PETA after team uses live penguins during pre-game festivities

The rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers may be one of the most physically brutal NHL series but, after Saturday's Stadium Series matchup at Heinz Field, there may be some harder crosschecks on the horizon.

On Thursday, PETA — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — sent a letter to Pittsburgh Penguins president and CEO David Morehouse, criticizing the team and the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium for using live penguins during pregame festivities before the game.

Specifically, PETA took exception with a video clip that went viral, showing a group of penguins flinching and scampering in confusion after a fireworks display at the stadium

Everything about this is terrible. pic.twitter.com/RRYJSDaCeh

— m g (@kikkerlaika) February 26, 2017

The Pittsburgh Zoo responded Thursday afternoon in a statement, discounting many of PETA’s claims.

“The loud pop from the pyrotechnical display temporarily startled the penguins and their first reaction similar to a human’s when startled, they flapped their wings,” the statement reads, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “It was less than 10 seconds and the penguins were back to normal and exploring and playing on the ice.”

PETA pointed out that the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium “is no longer accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums” and therefore “no longer has to maintain the AZA’s minimal standards or care for penguins and other animals.”

“It's inherently stressful for wild animals — who naturally shun contact with humans and are extremely sensitive to environmental changes — to be hauled around, used as props, and exposed to noisy crowds, with or without explosives going off,” John Di Leonardo, a campaigner for PETA, wrote in the letter to Morehouse. “Hockey fans come to see talented athletes compete, not shy animals terrorized.”

The Pittsburgh Zoo said the penguins that participated in Saturday’s pregame entertainment were the same penguins that appear in the Penguins on Parade event, which allows the public to view the animals every Saturday and Sunday from late November through the end of February.

“They are very comfortable around people and noises,” they also claimed in their statement.

You have to admit the little guys did seem a little startled by the loud boom (who usually isn't) but it still can't be as scary as being stranded on an ice floe, staring down the mouth of a killer whale.

Cardinals' Tyrann Mathieu sits inside hot car for PETA PSA (VIDEO)

NFL cornerback Tyrann Mathieu knows all about sweating out two-a-days and OTAs, but how would the Cardinals star handle sitting in a hot, closed windowed car for a PETA PSA?

Mathieu put himself to the test by sitting in a broiling car for a news PSA just to show how dangerous it is to leave a pet — or a child — in a locked car on a hot day.

Filmed on a 90-degree day, Mathieu hopped into the passenger seat of a black, Chevy SUV wearing jeans and a t-shirt. After two minutes, the temperature inside rose to 97 degrees. After four minutes, the mercury hit 105 degrees, then 113 degrees after six minutes before finally hitting 120 degrees after just eight minutes.

Throughout the clip, Mathieu tries to cool himself off, wiping sweat from his face with his shirt and fanning himself to no avail.

“I seriously couldn’t imagine leaving my dog in a car like this,” he says. “If you’re going to make a dog a part of your family, then make it a part of your family.”

After eight minutes, he's had had enough and opens the door before stumbled out into the parking lot.

“I can’t do it,” he gasped before being handed a bottle of water.

Hundreds of pets die each year from heat exhaustion after being left inside cars, the American Veterinary Medical Association reports, while more than three dozen children in the U.S. die inside hot cars each year.

Just a reminder.

Marcus Vick gets into Twitter war with PETA over brother Michael

Marcus Vick, the older brother of the New York Jets' newly signed quarterback Michael Vick, is once again making news for the wrong reasons.

Following the Jets' signing of Michael, PETA took the opportunity to send out a tweet reminding the world of the controversial quarterback's infamous dogfighting past. Marcus responded with some choice words of his own directed at the animal rights group..

'y’all still on that bulls–t???? Smh #Peta,' Marcus tweeted back.

Vick, who served 21 months in a federal prison for his involvement in a violent dogfighting ring, was the target of a virtual jab from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in the form of a comment posted on Twitter Saturday afternoon.

At least Michael Vick can't drown, electrocute, hang, or shoot a football the way he terrorized "man’s best friend." #smh #Jets
— PETA (@peta) March 22, 2014

'At least Michael Vick can’t drown, electrocute, hang, or shoot a football the way he terrorized "man’s best friend." #smh #Jets,” the organization tweeted, after it apparently got word of his new contract in New York.

The Jets signed the former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback to a one-year deal Friday, and released Mark Sanchez, the one-time face of the franchise.

The younger Vick — who since being released from prison has been a vocal animal rights advocate — seems more interested in playing football than he does with starting a Twitter war with PETA.

"Anywhere I go, or any team, I'm always going to compete for the No. 1 spot," Vick said last week of his upcoming battle for the starter job with quarterback Geno Smith. "And I will encourage any other quarterback behind me or in front of me to always compete for their job, for the No. 1 spot.

'That's how champions are made."

The 33-year-old Vick, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, was once considered the most dynamic player in the NFL, particularly during his first six NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. 

PETA flags Rex Ryan for running with the bulls

Rex Ryan has more than just Jets fans horning into his off-season activities these days.

Animal-rights group PETA is now criticizing the New York Jets coach for helping kick off the annual San Fermin Festival by joining thousands in the running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, on Sunday and Monday.

Everyone together.  P-E-T-A Peta! Peta! Peta! 

Michelle Cho, PETA’S associate director, sent Ryan a letter Thursday asking him to refrain from future bull runs and clued him in on the abuse the animals endure — including death by sword.

“I implore you … to pledge never again to participate in this cruel event,” Cho wrote.

“An aspect of the cruel spectacle that you likely didn’t witness is that prior to runs, bulls are held in corrals, where the scared and confused animals are jabbed with electric prods and sharp sticks in order to rile them,” Cho wrote.

Ryan — who was ridiculed for having a Mark Sanchez tattoo while vacationing last winter — joined thousands of thrill-seekers running with the bulls in the annual celebration. Photos captured the red-scarfed coach frantically bulldozing through the crowd as one of the angry beasts jabs a participant. A video shows the slimmed down coach clumsily trying scale a fence while a bull rampages down a narrow street.

The Jets declined to comment.