The Penguins and Flyers will face each other in the first round of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Written off as a team expected to tank entering the 2025-26 season, Pittsburgh finds itself back in the postseason for the first time since the 2022-23 season. The Flyers locked up the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot and will play meaningful hockey in April for the first time since the 2019-20 season.

Game 1 is set for Saturday, April 18 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Below, I’ve provided a series preview as well as my top prediction on DraftKings Sportsbook for the highly anticipated first-round matchup between the Penguins and Flyers.

Penguins vs. Flyers preview, prediction

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh makes its return to the postseason after missing the mark the previous three seasons, with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin leading the way, just like it’s 2015 again. For a minute there, I was beginning to worry if the hockey gods would bless us with one more postseason featuring Crosby and Malkin. Both of their careers are coming to an end, and it’s hard to imagine them not seizing this opportunity to make a run one last time. Pittsburgh may have barely squeaked in with 98 points, but this club has the pieces to make some postseason noise. From depth production to elite special-teams play, they won’t be an easy out.

It was sorta miraculous what the Penguins were able to do this season, especially with Crosby and Malkin missing a combined 40 games. The club ranked third in goals per game, third in 5v5 goals per 60, 13th in 5v5 Corsi% and eighth in 5v5 Goals%. Pittsburgh’s special-teams play was particularly elite, ranking seventh in PP% and sixth in PK%. The playoff experience, paired with elite special teams, tend to be a recipe for success when playing postseason hockey. If there was one thing that could derail their chances, it’d be the goaltending. Stuart Skinner has plenty of playoff experience from his time with Edmonton, but Pittsburgh ranked 22nd in goals against per game and allowed 3.9 goals per game following the Olympic break.

Philadelphia Flyers

This series is a battle of old guys vs. young guys, and the Flyers are the young guys. Pittsburgh will trust its veteran leadership, while Philadelphia will hope its first playoff appearance in five years will be a memorable one led by the likes of Trevor Zegras, Owen Tippett and Matvei Michkov, among others. The Flyers secured the final wild-card spot, thanks to a stellar 18-7-1 record across 26 games since returning from the Olympic break. Across their final 10 games of the season, they went 7-3-0, while averaging 3.6 goals and allowing 2.5 goals per game.

While the Flyers weren’t necessarily lighting the lamp consistently, ranking 21st in goals per game, they still did enough to secure wins, thanks to strong defensive play and goaltending. Sure, Philadelphia scored the 12th-fewest 5v5 goals per 60, but it also allowed the fourth-fewest 5v5 goals against per 60. Dan Vladar put together a career-best season, but the defense in front of him made it very difficult for opposing teams to see high-quality chances. On the season, the Flyers allowed the fifth-fewest high-danger chances against. Philadelphia’s glaring weakness is its special-teams play, with the club ranking dead last in PP% and 22nd in PK%.

Penguins vs. Flyers prediction, pick

This series should be interesting. If the Penguins are going to win, they’ll need improved goaltending. If the Flyers want to win, they’ll want to play disciplined and keep the game at even strength. That said, one team is filled with young, inexperienced guys, and the other is led by two veterans who have won three Stanley Cups together.

Pittsburgh is a -170 favorite to win the series for a reason, and his name is Sidney Crosby. I’d like to think that both Crosby and Malkin are well aware this is likely their last chance to make a run. Philadelphia won’t be an easy out; however, and I’m expecting the club to steal a game or two, especially if Pittsburgh’s goaltending looks flat. I am leaning toward the Penguins in 6, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the series came down to a Game 7.

Best Bet: PIT Penguins to Win Series, 4-2 (+425)