Pittsburgh Penguins & Flyers Set To Renew Rivalry In 2026 Playoffs – Hockey Writers – Pittsburgh Penguins

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 the renewed rivalry in the Battle of Pennsylvania is poetic.

Penguins and flyers go well together

The Penguins and Flyers met four times during the regular season, splitting the series 2-2. The teams are evenly matched, and both of Philadelphia’s victories over Pittsburgh have come in shootouts. The Flyers won most of the regular season games in shots, which will not help them in the postseason.

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

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

The Penguins haven’t reached the postseason since 2022, but most of their players have playing experience. Erik Karlsson may be playing in his first series with Pittsburgh, but he has played four seasons 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 the most valuable player by his teammates. In 75 games, he scored 15 goals and 66 points, ranking in the top 10 in assists and points among NHL defensemen. He has put the team on his back many times this season, and if history is any indication, he will step up his game in the playoffs.

This is Ben Kindel’s first trip to the postseason. He had a breakout rookie season, with 17 goals and 18 assists in 77 games, but hasn’t been a major offensive contributor this past month.

In the past, the Penguins’ third line was the reason they went on a deep run or won the Stanley Cup. HBK’s line of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino, and Phil Kessel was a key part of the tag team’s 2016 and 2017 championship runs. The top six can’t do it alone, so Kindle 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, and Pittsburgh had to be the frontrunner to land Gavin McKenna on this year’s roster. Apparently, the hockey gods feel that now is the time for these teams to re-establish their rivalry as one of the best in the NHL.

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