Penguins and Flyers Renew Playoff Rivalry

Sidney Crosby's Penguins and surging Flyers face off in first-round Stanley Cup matchup.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 3:13am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between two teams, with the players and action fragmented into overlapping planes of color and shape.The storied playoff rivalry between the Penguins and Flyers resumes with a first-round clash that is sure to captivate hockey fans.Today in Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, two of the NHL's fiercest rivals, will meet in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in eight years. The opening game of their first-round series is set for Saturday night in Pittsburgh.

Why it matters

This playoff matchup between the Penguins and Flyers reignites one of the league's most intense rivalries, with the two Pennsylvania teams having met in the postseason seven previous times. The series is expected to be highly competitive, with the Penguins led by veteran superstar Sidney Crosby and the Flyers riding a late-season surge to reach the playoffs.

The details

The Penguins and Flyers last faced off in the playoffs in 2018, with Pittsburgh prevailing in the second round. This year's first-round clash will be the eighth all-time postseason meeting between the two franchises, with the Penguins holding a 4-3 series advantage.

  • The opening game of the Penguins-Flyers first-round series is set for Saturday, April 19, 2026.
  • The two teams last met in the playoffs in 2018.

The players

Sidney Crosby

A future Hall of Famer and the longtime captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Crosby is one of the NHL's all-time great players.

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What they’re saying

“This is the kind of playoff matchup that hockey fans live for. The Penguins and Flyers have such a storied rivalry, and with both teams playing well heading into the postseason, this series is sure to be intense and entertaining.”

— Mike Lange, Penguins play-by-play announcer

What’s next

The winner of the Penguins-Flyers series will advance to the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The takeaway

The renewal of the Penguins-Flyers playoff rivalry is a testament to the enduring passion of hockey fans in Pennsylvania, who have witnessed countless epic battles between these two franchises over the decades.