The Pittsburgh Penguins return to the Stanley Cup playoffs after a three-year absence and will face off against the rival Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, starting at 8 p.m. Saturday at PPG Paints Arena.
TribLive writers are previewing the matchup with features, commentary and need to know information.
Preview
Battle of Pennsylvania playoff rivalry runs deep for Penguins, Flyers
Some call it the Battle of Pennsylvania or Keystone State rivalry or Pennsylvania Cold War. Penguins vs. Flyers is a matchup that dates to the 1960s and has grown in intensity since. They will again face off in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. Here’s a look the seven previous times the teams have met in the postseason.
‘This is what you play for’: The Penguins relish return to the Stanley Cup playoffs
Instead of wearing golf shirts, shorts and baseball caps while answering questions about potentially being traded, who the next general manager might be or playing for Sweden in May’s IIHF World Championship tournament, the Penguins sat in their locker stalls in their gear and discussed the power play, the composition of the third line and playing the rival Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
‘We just don’t like them. They don’t like us’: Penguins ready for playoff matchup with Flyers
Framed within the geographical limits of each being situated in the Keystone State, the rivalry is anything but a mundane coincidence based on both teams being located north of the Mason-Dixon line.
Take 5: Goaltending could be all over the map when Penguins, Flyers collide
Goaltending is always an unpredictable variable in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but there’s a good chance it could be all over the map in the upcoming first-round series between the Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. Here’s a closer look at some goaltending storylines in the series.
Defenseman Erik Karlsson leads Penguins back to playoffs with bounceback season
Erik Karlsson doesn’t wear a letter on the front of his jersey as a defenseman with the Pittsburgh Penguins. But that doesn’t mean Karlsson isn’t a leader on this team.
Who could be an X-factor in the Penguins’ playoff series vs. Philadelphia?
As the Penguins gear up for their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers, Tommy Novak could be in position to play a decisive role for his club, which hasn’t competed in the postseason since 2022.
Key matchup: Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon to be tested by Flyers’ top forwards
A theme for the Pittsburgh Penguins this season has been how president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas managed to hit on a significant percentage of his free-agent signings and trades.
Breaking down the Penguins’ playoff roster
The 2025-26 Pittsburgh Penguins finished second in the Metropolitan Division and will play the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Here’s a look at the Penguins’ roster.
Breaking down the Flyers’ playoff roster
The 2025-26 Philadelphia Flyers placed third in the Metropolitan Division and will play the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Here’s a look at the Flyers’ roster.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pat McAfee wager on Penguins-Flyers playoff series
The impending NHL hockey playoff series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers has even the state’s governor getting in on the action.
Columnists
Mark Madden: Penguins-Flyers will be fast, physical, unforgiving and more series thoughts
As you prepare for the Pennsylvania derby, gird your loins via refreshing Penguins notes and keep your head on a swivel. It’s going to be that kind of series.
Tim Benz: Penguins versus Flyers. Let the cross-state hate begin
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in the playoffs for the first time since 2022. The Philadelphia Flyers are in the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Naturally, they are celebrating those accomplishments by facing each other in Round 1 of the 2026 NHL postseason. Bring on the cross-state hate!
Mark Madden: Penguins vs. Flyers in the Stanley Cup playoffs just means more
The old enemy. Playing Philadelphia in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs seems scripted. Miss the postseason for three years, then get re-introduced via the Battle of Pennsylvania. The Flyers hadn’t made the playoffs since 2020. It will be intense.
Joe Starkey: Of course I didn’t see this Penguins season coming. Did you? Did they?
Penguins broadcaster Josh Getzoff got it right when the buzzer sounded on the playoff-clinching win in New Jersey. “This was a team everyone said was lottery bound!”
Schedule
The NHL released the full schedule for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs early Friday morning.
The Pittsburgh Penguins will open their series against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.
The schedule for the best-of-seven series:
Saturday, April 18 – Flyers at Penguins, 8 p.m.
Monday, April 20 – Flyers at Penguins, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 22 – Penguins at Flyers, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 25 – Penguins at Flyers, 8 p.m.
Monday, April 27 – Flyers at Penguins, TBD-*
Wednesday, April 29 – Penguins at Flyers, TBD-*
Saturday, May 2 – Flyers at Penguins, TBD-*
*If necessary
All games are listed with broadcast times and not the time of the opening faceoff.