Bill Meltzer’s & Anthony Mingioni’s Flyers blogs on Hockey Hot Stove are powered by Phans of Philly, Lights On Electric, New Balance of Mount Laurel, Cover All Exteriors, and our newest sponsors, The Mens and Boys Store and Carl’s Cards and Collectibles.
The Battle of Pennsylvania rages anew. For the first time in eight years, the Philadelphia Flyers will take on the arch-rival Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Both teams finished with 98 standings points this season (Pittsburgh has home-ice advantage by virtue of more regulation wins). The clubs split their four-game season series with each club winning twice: once at home and once on the other team’s rink.
This is a series that could go either way. The Penguins have a veteran-laden team with long-tenured superstar names atop their lineup. The Flyers, meanwhile, were driven by goaltending, overall depth, and rising young talents on the wing.
Flyers Forwards
For much of the season, the discussion about the Flyers forward groups focused on what they didn’t have. Namely, a legitimate scoring line-quality center to balance a wing-heavy roster.
However, with team captain Sean Couturier struggling to produce offense (at one point going 34 games without a goal), head coach Rick Tocchet decided to make a major adjustment coming out of the Olympic Break.
Trevor Zegras shifted from left wing to center. In doing so, Tocchet paired winger Owen Tippett with him. The grouping saw both players ignite offensively. The former set a new career high in goals (26) and points (67), while Tippett was able to put together more consistent stretches of dominant play. I
However, it hasn’t been a perfect transition, accepting that Zegras was going to be learning on the job with all of the bumps and bruises that came with it.
Beyond that, the major changes came in the form of a pair of unexpected roster additions.
The first was 2025 draftee Porter Martone joining the team following Michigan State’s elimination from the NCAA Tournament. Martone immediately clicked with center Christian Dvorak and winger Travis Konecny, showing equal parts playmaking and scoring ability. He finished the regular season with four goals and 10 points in nine games played.
However, the second addition truly came as a surprise. Tyson Foerster, who had suffered an upper body injury that was expected to sideline him for the rest of the season, returned to the lineup on April 2. The power winger replaced Denver Barkey on the Zegras/Tippett unit and helped balance it with his two way play.
Perhaps most encouraging about the Flyers 18-6-1 post Olympic run has been the emergence of their young forwards beyond Martone.
Most notably, Matvei Michkov had as frustrating a sophomore slump as could be imagined. But in many ways, his play has reflected the Flyers late season surge. With 20 goals and 51 points, the hope for Philadelphia is that he continues to carry it over into the postseason.
In addition, Michkov has developed a good chemistry with Noah Cates and Barkey. Cates topped his career high in goals (18), points (47) and plus minus (+26). Barkey has been one of Tocchet’s favorites since his call-up with his aggressive play and willingness to engage on the boards.
At the same time, Couturier has overseen a renaissance in his new role as fourth line center. A reduction in ice time has seen an improvement in his play. as he developed an excellent partnership with waiver wire pick-up Luke Glendening. It also has taken off some of the faceoff burden as the versatile Glendening is highly skilled in that department.
The remaining forward option include Garnet Hathaway, Alex Bump, Garrett Wilson, with Nikita Grebenkin expected to return from injury.
Penguins Forwards
Comparatively, the Penguins have a veteran, seasoned group. Five of the players in their top six are age 31 or older. Center Sidney Crosby and right wing Evgeni Malkin are the grey-beards of the group at 38 and 39, respectively.
Most of the focus will understandably be with the incomparable Crosby. If you put the term “Flyers Killer” in the dictionary, there may be no greater example in league history.
In 23 postseason games that he’s played against the Flyers, he has 15 goals, 36 points, with a plus 10 rating. Basically, it’s “Death, Taxes, Crosby Scores Against the Flyers” when it comes to life’s certainties.
Through four postseason series in the Crosby era, the Penguins have a 14-9 record. That’s the impact he’s had and what the Flyers have to account for at all times.
Malkin was over a point per game player this season (61 points in 59 games). He remains a physical dangerous force.
However, with a plus 25 goal differential this season, Pittsburgh has established that they are more than just Crosby and Malkin. This was especially evident after losing both players for extended stretches and they maintained their postseason position.
Center Rickard Rackell has acted as the connective tissue for Pittsburgh’s second line, as Malkin shifted away from the center position following his return from shoulder surgery in January.
Winger Anthony Mantha enjoyed a career best season as the Penguins leading goal scorer with 33 goals and 64 points. Bryan Rust flirted with the 30 goal plateau and provides Pittsburgh with much needed grit and toughness in the slot.
Additionally, it’s not just the veterans who contributed this season.
Egor Chinakov (21 goals) was a tremendous acquisition coming over from the Columbus Blue Jackets and adds another skilled dimension to their forward group.
2025 draftee Ben Kindel proved ready for NHL action earlier than expected and anchors their third line with Mantha and the massive 6’8 Elmer Soderblom
Blake Lizotte currently centers their fourth line with Connor Dewar (14 goals, 30 points) and Noel Acciari.
Beyond them, their depth forwards included former Flyer Kevin Hayes and Justin Brazeau.
Flyers Defensemen
The Olympian duo of Travis Sanheim (Canada) and Rasmus Ristolainen (Finland) each enjoyed very strong tournaments in Milan. Following the break, they reconnected as the Flyers’ top pairing. Both players — individually and in tandem — raised their game even a notch higher for Philadelphia over the remainder of the regular season. This will be Ristolainen’s first trip to postseason play.
The second pair duo of Jamie Drysdale and Cam York came together after head coach Rick Tocchet moved Ristolainen to the top pair. Sanheim’s primary partner of two-plus seasons, York, bumped down one pairing. Meanwhile, shot-blocking veteran Nick Seeler (previously with Drysdale), went to third pair; mostly with small puck-mover Emil Andrae.
Drysdale won the Pelle Lindbergh Trophy this season as the Flyers’ most improved player (as selected by his teammates). Three of the Flyers’ four main starters after the top pairing are of average to below-average size. However, they are crafty and Drysdale in particular is an excellent skater.
Although they don’t get much credit outside of Philadelphia — individually or collectively — the Flyers’ blueline is generally solid and mobile. There is not an elite point producer on the back end. However, Sanheim bagged a career-high 11 goals. Meanwhile, for the first time since 2011-12, Philly had three different defensement (Sanheim, Drysdale, York) chip in 20+ assists in the same season.
Penguins defensemen
Erik Karlsson, 35, and Kris Letang, 38, are no longer at the pinnacles of their respective careers. However, both players are still eminently capable of burning opposing teams. Karlsson (15g, 51a) is still capable of elite-level offensive production to compensate for his defensive shortcomings. Letang (34 points in 74 games) has seen his role shift a bit as he’s reached his late 30s. Nevertheless, he’s been a thorn in the Flyers’ side for many years and is still a threat in a playoff series.
Samuel Girard, 27, was a valuable addition to the Penguins in the late February trade that sent former Edmonton defenseman Brett Kulak from Colorado to Pittsburgh. Players such as 28-year-old Parker Wotherspoon (30 points) and 28-year-old ex-Bruin Connor Clifton were also serviceable in their respective roles for Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, the late-blooming Ryan Shea quietly assembled a rock-solid campaign in his first full-time NHL duty.
Flyers-Penguins goalie comparison
Dan Vladar was a shoo-in for the Bobby Clarke Trophy as Flyers MVP this season. The Czech Olympian consistently gave his team an opportunity to win games.He was also a galvanizing presence in the locker room and displayed resiliency whenever faced with adversity.Meanwhile, goaltending partner Samuel Ersson played very well down the stretch when called upon after struggling with inconsistency and an injury absence in the months leading up to the Olympic break.
On the Pittsburgh side, Stuart Skinner went to back-to-back Cup Finals as a member of the Edmonton Oilers but has often dealt with skeptics of his ability to backstop a top team as its primary starter. Arturs Silovs posted an identical save percentage (.888) to Skinner in 39 games with 38 starts.
Special Teams
When it comes to the special teams battle, the Penguins have a distinct advantage and that spells potential trouble for the Flyers.
Quite frankly, it’s where this series could be won or lost.
Even if the Flyers and Penguins match up well at five on five, the minute unnecessary penalties come into play, Philadelphia could be in a heap of trouble.
Pittsburgh has the league’s seventh best power-play at 24.1 percent. Conversely, Philadelphia has the worst man-advantage group (32nd overall) at 15.7 percent.
In trying to find the right combinations, the Flyers have made tweaks to their power-play of late. Most notably, the additions of Martone and Foerster have given them a pair of bigger bodies that can rotate into the slot area where they can hunt for pucks.
In addition, the Flyers have focused on generating shots from the point, hence why Ristolainen has been working with the first unit. It’s not an optimal set-up, but Tocchet has stated in the past that many power-play goals are the results of chaos. Will having bigger bodies in front and a heavy shot be enough?
In terms of recent performance (the final 10 games of the season), the Flyers saw a slight uptick in success at a little over 19 percent, while the Penguins dipped a little at 20.8 percent.
However, that’s not enough to think that will be enough to tip the balance, especially with the Penguins resting players for at least three of those games.
Here’s how the Penguins lined-up their man advantage units in their Thursday practice:
When it comes to penalty-killing, the Penguins are sixth best at 81.4 percent , while the Flyers are 22nd overall at 77.6 percent.
Both teams penalty killing unit performances struggled to various degrees towards the end of the season. The Penguins were at 70.8 percent PK in their final 10 games, but the Flyers were even more concerning with a 68 percent performance.
Regular season numbers aren’t always a precursor for the postseason, But if the Flyers hope to beat the Penguins, they will need to show improvement in these areas.
Home › Forums › The Battle of Pennsylvania ECQF Preview