Game Preview: Game 1 vs. Philadelphia Flyers

The Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers play Game 1 of Round One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, presented by UPMC and PPG, at PPG Paints Arena. Puck drop is set for 8:00 PM ET. Doors open at 6:30 PM.

All fans will receive a rally towel upon entering PPG Paints Arena thanks to UPMC and PPG. 

This game will be available to watch on SportsNet Pittsburgh and ESPN. Fans can listen to the game on 105.9 The X and on the Penguins app.

Regular-Season Team Records: PIT (41-25-16), PHI (43-27-12)

The Penguins went 2-0-2 against the Flyers in 2025-26. The Penguins won once at home and on the road while losing in shootouts the other times. Pittsburgh has a 19-15 all-time series record in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Penguins are 3-4 all-time in postseason series against the Flyers. Pittsburgh is 35-31 all-time at PPG Paints Arena in playoff contests.

Related Links

Recent News

• Back Where They Belong
• Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson, and Kris Letang Named in Multiple 2026 NHLPA Player Poll Categories
• Karlsson Poised For Return to Playoffs
• Preparing for the Battle of PA
• "Be You"
• Skating Down a Dream
• From a Kid with a Sign to Sid's Teammate
• A Promise Kept: Memories Made at the Olympics
• Sid and Ovi: Exceeding the Hype
• Penguins Pay Tribute to Gr8ness

Game Notes

QUICK HITS

Heading into this series, the Penguins have advanced to at least the second round of the playoffs eight times in the 16 playoff runs they’ve had with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the lineup. In five of the 16 runs, Pittsburgh has gone to at least the Conference Final.

The Penguins have six players on their postseason roster looking to make their NHL playoff debut – forwards Egor Chinakhov, Ben Kindel and Elmer Soderblom and defensemen Ryan Shea, Ilya Solovyov and Jack St. Ivany.

The Penguins scored seven power-play goals on 18 opportunities (38.9%) during the regular season against the Flyers.

Sidney Crosby enters the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs two victories from becoming the fourth active player to record 100 postseason wins and would join Corey Perry (135), Ryan McDonagh (105) and Brad Marchand (100). Notably, Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman enters one away from joining that list, while his teammate Evgeni Malkin (96) is also closing in on 100 playoff victories.

The Penguins and Flyers played the longest contest in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) and third longest in NHL history when Philadelphia’s Keith Primeau potted the winner at 12:01 of the fifth overtime in Game 4 of the 2000 Conference Semifinals.

20 YEARS OF SUCCESS

The 2025-26 season marked the 20th season that Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang have played together, which is the most by any trio of teammates in NHL history. 

The trio’s tenure coincided with Pittsburgh’s 16-straight playoff runs from 2006-22, which was the longest postseason streak among teams in the major North American professional sports leagues, and is tied with the Calgary Flames (1976-91) for the seventh-longest such run in League history. Since 2006-07, no team has more postseason appearances than the Penguins.

Since their playoff debuts in 2006-07, no team has more playoff wins (103), playoff goals (575) or Stanley Cups (3) than Pittsburgh. Crosby (71G-130A-201PTS) and Malkin (67G-113A-180PTS) rank first and second, respectively, in playoff points in that span as well.

OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is looking to build on one of the already most decorated playoff careers in NHL history. Crosby, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Conn Smythe winner, has recorded 201 playoff points (71G-130A) in 180 games, which is tied for fifth-most in NHL history.

MALK-A-MANIA

Evgeni Malkin enters the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with the 14th-most playoff points in NHL history (67G-113A-180PTS) and is two points shy of tying Bryan Trottier (182) for 13th place. Only three players born outside of North America have more postseason points than Malkin in NHL History.

DISHING OUT ASSISTS

Defenseman Kris Letang, who has 90 career playoff points (23G-67A) is one assist shy of tying Ron Francis for fifth place on the Penguins’ all-time playoff assist list.

CHASING HISTORY

Alternate captain Evgeni Malkin ranks third on Pittsburgh’s all-time goals list with 67 career playoff goals, only trailing Mario Lemieux (76) and Sidney Crosby (71).

Malkin is also one power-play goal from tying Lemieux for most in franchise history.

MULTI-POINT MALKIN

Evgeni Malkin is no stranger to big-time playoff performances. Malkin enters tomorrow's game with 53 multi-point efforts in his playoff career, and is one such performance from tying Joe Sakic (54) for the seventh-most multi-point performances in the playoffs in NHL history. Only teammate Sidney Crosby (67) has more multi-point games in their playoff career among active players.

THE PHILLY SPECIAL

The Penguins’ long-time duo of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are two of the top three point scorers in NHL history against the Flyers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Home Game Triggers