Flyers at Penguins: Game 1 Renews Pennsylvania Rivalry

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April 18, 2026

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The Battle of Pennsylvania returns: Flyers at Penguins, Game 1, Saturday at 8 p.m. ET. The Philadelphia Flyers visit the Pittsburgh Penguins for their first playoff meeting since 2018. Sidney Crosby hosts Trevor Zegras in the opener.

Veteran Penguins Meet Rising Flyers Core

The Pittsburgh Penguins return to the postseason for the first time since 2022. Sidney Crosby posted 74 points in 68 games at age 38. Crosby extended an NHL record with a 21st straight season averaging at least 1.00 points per game. Crosby owns 60 career goals against the Philadelphia Flyers, more than any other opponent.

The Philadelphia Flyers lean on a younger core built around forward Trevor Zegras. Zegras set personal bests with 26 goals and 67 points across 81 games in his first Flyers season. Philadelphia added 19-year-old Porter Martone on March 31. The Flyers averaged 3.67 goals per game with Martone in the lineup. Matvei Michkov led the Flyers with 22 points in 26 games after the Olympic break.

Goaltending could decide the series. Dan Vladar set career bests for the Flyers across 52 games. Vladar posted 29 wins, a 2.42 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. The Pittsburgh Penguins split starts between Stuart Skinner and rookie Arturs Silovs. Skinner posted a 2.99 GAA and .885 save percentage in 27 Pittsburgh games. Skinner arrived from Edmonton on Dec. 12.

The matchup marks the eighth playoff meeting between the Flyers and Penguins. The Pittsburgh Penguins won the most recent series in 2018 by a 4-2 margin. Philadelphia finished 43-27-12 for 98 points and earned the M3 seed. Pittsburgh matched at 41-25-16 for 98 points and holds the M2 seed. The Flyers and Penguins played four regular-season games this year.