Flyers–Penguins rivalry

Philadelphia Flyers

Pittsburgh Penguins

First meeting

October 19, 1967

Latest meeting

March 26, 2017

Next meeting

To be determined

Statistics

Meetings total

281

Regular season series

PHI 153–98–30

Postseason results

PHI 19–16

Current win streak

2 wins - Philadelphia

Postseason history

1989 Patrick Division Finals: Flyers won, 4–3
1997 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Flyers won, 4–1
2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Flyers won, 4–2
2008 Eastern Conference Finals: Penguins won, 4–1
2009 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Penguins won, 4–2
2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Flyers won, 4–2

The Flyers–Penguins rivalry, also known as the Battle of Pennsylvania, is a National Hockey League (NHL) rivalry between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins ice hockey clubs, considered by many to be the best rivalry in the NHL. Both teams compete in the NHL's Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division. The rivalry began in 1967, when the teams were introduced into the NHL's "Next Six" expansion wave. The rivalry exists due to divisional alignment and geographic location, as both teams play in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Flyers and Penguins have met in the Stanley Cup playoffs in three of the past eight seasons as of 2015, strengthening the rivalry.

The first meeting between the Flyers and Penguins occurred on October 19, 1967, in the first-ever game at the Philadelphia Spectrum. Flyers goaltender Doug Favell stopped all 17 Pittsburgh shots and Bill Sutherland scored the lone goal 2:59 into the third period for a 1–0 Flyers win.

The rivalry was not as strong in earlier years, as the Penguins struggled in the NHL until the arrival of Mario Lemieux in 1984–85. The Flyers achieved just the opposite, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975. When the NHL realigned divisions prior to the 1974–75 season, the two Pennsylvania teams were moved to separate divisions. The Penguins spent the next seven seasons in the Norris Division and became the Flyers' division rivals once again upon joining the Patrick Division in 1981–82.

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