Flyers' special teams woes could be their downfall against Penguins

Philadelphia's struggling power play and penalty kill will be put to the test against their bitter rivals in the playoffs

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:52am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a hockey game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, with the players' movements and the intensity of the rivalry captured through sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes.The historic rivalry between the Flyers and Penguins is set to reach a fever pitch in the playoffs, with both teams' special teams play likely to be a key factor in determining the outcome.Today in Pittsburgh

The Philadelphia Flyers will face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, renewing their long-standing rivalry. While the Flyers have a talented young core led by players like Travis Konecny, Trevor Zegras, and Matvei Michkov, their biggest weakness could be their special teams performance during the regular season, which ranked near the bottom of the league in both power play and penalty kill efficiency. The Penguins, on the other hand, boasted strong special teams units, which could give them an advantage in the series.

Why it matters

The Flyers' struggles on special teams could prove to be their undoing against the Penguins, a team that has had their number in recent playoff matchups. If Philadelphia can't capitalize on power play opportunities and shore up their penalty kill, they may struggle to keep up with Pittsburgh's offensive firepower and experience.

The details

The Flyers' power play operated at just over 15% efficiency during the regular season, ranking dead last in the NHL. They failed to sustain pressure and generate high-danger scoring chances with the man advantage. Their penalty kill was also subpar, operating at just 77.6% efficiency, good for 23rd in the league. Meanwhile, the Penguins boasted a top-10 power play and penalty kill, which could give them a significant special teams advantage in the series.

  • The first-round series between the Flyers and Penguins is scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
  • Game 2 will be played on Monday, April 20, 2026.
  • The series will then shift to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday, April 22 and Saturday, April 25, 2026.
  • If necessary, Games 5, 6, and 7 will be played on Monday, April 27, Wednesday, April 29, and Saturday, May 2, 2026.

The players

Travis Konecny

A young forward who is part of the Flyers' core group of talented players.

Trevor Zegras

Another young forward who has emerged as a key contributor for the Flyers.

Matvei Michkov

A second-year forward who has made an immediate impact for the Flyers.

Rasmus Ristolainen

A towering defenseman who will be making his Stanley Cup Playoff debut for the Flyers.

Dan Vladar

The Flyers' starting goaltender who has taken over the crease from Samuel Ersson.

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What they’re saying

“I've got to control myself too because of the way I coach, but yeah of course. I love the city. I won three Stanley Cups there. I have friends in that city. I adore the franchise. But I'm on the other side now. Handshakes and all, that's for later. This is the real keeps, and I got to keep my head on straight and know that I'm an orange and black guy now. We're going to go head-to-head with this team, and it's going to hopefully be a hell of a series.”

— Rick Tocchet, Flyers Head Coach

“The next three, four days here for me are really important because I want them to be aggressive. I want the hate, right? For them to feel Penguin-Flyer hate, which helps you in your game. But it's got to be control of aggression. I know Danny [Briere] talked the other day about it, we can't let our emotions go overboard, and that's the one thing you have to be careful of because you can lose games that way.”

— Rick Tocchet, Flyers Head Coach

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Flyers' struggles on special teams during the regular season could be their downfall against the Penguins, a team with a strong power play and penalty kill. If Philadelphia can't capitalize on their opportunities with the man advantage and shore up their shorthanded play, they may have a hard time keeping up with Pittsburgh's offensive firepower and experience.