Penguins & Flyers Set to Renew Rivalry in 2026 Playoffs

The Pittsburgh Penguins are headed back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where they will meet the Philadelphia Flyers in Round 1. Neither team was expected to make the postseason, but a renewed rivalry in the Battle of Pennsylvania is poetic.

Penguins and Flyers Match Up Well 

The Penguins and the Flyers met four times during the regular season, splitting the series 2-2. The teams are pretty evenly matched, and both of Philadelphia’s victories over Pittsburgh came in the shootout. The Flyers won a lot of regular-season games in a shootout, which won’t help them in the postseason. 

On paper, Pittsburgh appears to have the advantage, but the Flyers might have the edge in net and on defense. Dan Vladar had a 2.42 goals-against average (GAA) and a .906 save percentage (SV%) during the regular season. Philadelphia does not generate a ton of offense, and they don’t have a ton of elite goal scorers, but their goalie can keep the puck out of the net, and that could be the difference. 

The Flyers might lack offense, but they make up for it on defense. Travis Sanheim had 11 goals and 26 assists in 81 games, and he led the team in ice time, averaging 24:13 per game. He also represented Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics and understands high-stakes games. Jamie Drysdale is a key part of the team’s defensive core. At 24, he has emerged as a dominant, physical presence, and he is not afraid to shoot the puck.

The Penguins have not reached the postseason since 2022, but most of their players have playoff experience. Erik Karlsson might be playing in his first series with Pittsburgh, but he has made the postseason four times in his career, with the Ottawa Senators and San Jose Sharks. 

Karlsson’s first two seasons with the Penguins were rocky, but this season, he was voted most valuable player by his teammates. In 75 games, he scored 15 goals and 66 points, ranking in the top ten in assists and points among NHL defensemen. He put the team on his back many times this season, and if history is any indicator, he will elevate his game in the playoffs.

This is Ben Kindel’s first trip to the postseason. He has had a breakout rookie season, with 17 goals and 18 assists through 77 games, but he has not been a big offensive contributor over the last month. 

In the past, the Penguins’ third line was the reason they went on deep playoff runs or even won the Stanley Cup. The HBK line of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino, and Phil Kessel was an essential part of the team’s 2016 and 2017 championships.  The top six will not be able to do it alone, so Kindel and the rest of the bottom six will need to step up. 

Penguins vs. Flyers Series Will Probably Go the Distance 

A little over a month ago, the Flyers were nine points out of a playoff spot, while Pittsburgh was supposed to be a frontrunner to get Gavin McKenna in this year’s draft. Apparently, the hockey gods felt now was the time for these teams to re-establish their rivalry as one of the best in the NHL.

The Penguins will have to defend better in their own zone, and they will need good goaltending. The Flyers might not give up a lot of goals, but they also don’t score a lot of goals. They also have a lot of young talent on their roster, while Pittsburgh’s old guard will answer the call once again. This series could easily go the full seven games.