Flyers Vs. Penguins Playoff Preview: What To Know Ahead Of The Battle Of Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA, PA — No matter the depths of bureaucratic hell, organizational mismanagement, off-ice drama, and on-ice defeat the Flyers sunk to over the past decade, there could never be any doubt in the fanatic's mind that Philadelphia is a hockey city.

Suffering through years of a rebuild that caught in fits and starts, that saw the team cycle through head coaches and general managers, that weathered the drama of the Sixers seeking a divorce and a new home, this current crop of young Flyers can be forgiven for not knowing what sort of sacred ground they skated on, what rough beast, it's hour come at last, now slouches toward Broad Street to be born.

"That was the loudest I've ever heard this building," right winger Owen Tippett told reporters after Monday night's 3-2 win over Carolina, clinching their first playoff berth since 2020.

"That was the coolest thing I've ever seen," center Trevor Zagras said. "The reaction when Foery scored in the shootout. I'll never forget that."

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Hockey mania may have lain dormant in Philadelphia for the past several years, but the volcano is active now. For the first time since 2009, the Phillies, Sixers, Eagles, and Flyers are all headed to the playoffs in the same season.

"Battle of Pennsylvania" preview

The Flyers will face off against their archrivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the first round of the playoffs.

The exact schedule for the postseason has not yet been released, but it's expected to begin on Saturday, April 18. All first round games are traditionally within a day of one another, so game one will be either Saturday or Sunday.

The Penguins will have home ice advantage, so they will host games one and two. Games three, four, and five will be in Philly, with games six and seven back in Pittsburgh.

"The Battle for Pennsylvania" has been waged eight times in the postseason before, including the last time the Flyers were in the playoffs during a full season, in 2018. The Penguins won that matchup 2018, 4-2. They met four times in the playoffs between 2008 and 2018.

In their history, the Flyers hold the slight advantage in series won (4-3) and games won (21-20).

Odds, tickets

Pittsburgh had the same number of points as the Flyers in the regular season, though they held the tiebreaker, giving them home ice advantage. They're clear favorites in the series, starting at minus 170, per DraftKings.

Game one tickets in Pittsburgh are up for sale starting at $189. Tickets to games three and four in Philadelphia are also now available, with prices starting at $684 as of Wednesday afternoon.