Flyers-Penguins rivalry
| First meeting | October 19, 1967 |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | March 26, 2017 |
| Next meeting | November 27, 2017 |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 281 |
| All-time series | PHI 172–114–30 |
| Regular season series | PHI 153–98–30 |
| Postseason results | PHI 19–16 |
| Longest win streak | PHI W11 |
| Current win streak | 2 wins - Philadelphia |
| Postseason history | |
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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. 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 met in the Stanley Cup playoffs three times in a span of five seasons from 2008–2012, 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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