Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins (Stanley Cup Playoffs, Round 1 Game 1) goes Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh earned home ice after both teams finished the regular season with 98 points (Penguins 2nd in the Metro, Flyers 3rd), so Game 1 starts with the Pens getting last change and a strong special-teams edge on paper.
Philadelphia is the underdog at +118, with the total set at 6.5 and Pittsburgh laying -142 on the moneyline. Odds as of 7:54 AM ET on April 17, 2026.
Odds & Game Info
This table lists the current market for Saturday night (odds from Bookmaker.eu).
| Game Info | Spread (Puck Line) | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flyers @ Penguins Apr 18, 2026, 8:00 PM ET PPG Paints Arena | PHI +1.5 (-196) PIT -1.5 (+158) | PHI +118 PIT -142 | Over 6.5 (+106) Under 6.5 (-130) |
Injuries (notable)
- Flyers: Owen Tippett (Day-To-Day, est. Apr 18), Christian Dvorak (Day-To-Day, est. Apr 18), Rodrigo Abols (Injured Reserve)
- Penguins: No injuries listed on the league injury report at the time of writing
Rest/Travel
Philadelphia makes the short trip to Pittsburgh for Game 1. Pittsburgh is in a clean home spot with no travel.
Team Stats
This table highlights the core scoring and special-teams profile.
| Team | Goals per game | Goals allowed per game | Power play % | Penalty kill % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Flyers | 2.93 | 2.91 | 15.74% | 77.55% |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 3.54 | 3.15 | 24.14% | 81.43% |
Shot Volume (per game)
- Flyers: 25.46 shots for, 25.45 shots against
- Penguins: 28.59 shots for, 27.35 shots against
Recaps
Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia finished 43-27-12 with a strong road profile (23-14-4) and better recent form (7-3-0 last 10). Their shot profile is low-event by volume (25.46 shots for and 25.45 shots against per game), and the power play was a clear weak point (15.74%) heading into a series where special teams can swing a one-goal game quickly.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh finished 41-25-16 and secured home ice with 98 points, with a 20-13-8 home record. The Penguins’ scoring and special teams drive their ceiling: 3.54 goals per game with a 24.14% power play, plus the stronger penalty kill (81.43%) than Philadelphia. The concern entering Game 1 is form (5-5-0 last 10) and a three-game skid to close the regular season.
Matchup Keys
- Special-teams gap: Penguins PP 24.14% vs Flyers PK 77.55% is Pittsburgh’s cleanest path to separation if whistles pile up.
- Flyers offense vs Penguins structure: Philadelphia is under 3.0 goals per game (2.93) and will need to finish a limited number of chances if the shot volume stays muted.
- Shot volume edge: Pittsburgh generates more (28.59 SF/GP) than Philadelphia (25.46 SF/GP), which matters in a playoff Game 1 where rebounds and broken plays decide margins.
- Home-ice leverage: Pittsburgh’s last change at PPG Paints Arena helps them chase matchups and protect leads with their better PK (81.43%).
Betting Trends
- Flyers are in better current form: 7-3-0 in their last 10.
- Penguins are .500 over their last 10: 5-5-0, entering on a 3-game losing streak.
- Penguins’ power play (24.14%) is meaningfully better than the Flyers’ power play (15.74%).
- Flyers play a low-shot brand by season averages: 25.46 shots for per game.
- Flyers also suppress shots well by volume: 25.45 shots against per game.
- Penguins games skew higher-event: 28.59 shots for and 27.35 shots against per game.
- Totals math baseline: Penguins (3.54 GF/GP, 3.15 GA/GP) profile closer to 6.5-range games than Philadelphia (2.93 GF/GP, 2.91 GA/GP).
- Flyers injury watch: Tippett and Dvorak listed day-to-day, which is notable for a team already under 3.0 goals per game.
Best Bet
Pittsburgh Penguins moneyline (-142).
Pittsburgh has the more reliable scoring profile (3.54 goals per game) and the clearer special-teams advantage (24.14% power play, 81.43% penalty kill). Philadelphia’s path is tight-game hockey, but the Flyers’ power play (15.74%) gives them less margin for error if they fall behind early. If the Flyers are missing any offense (Tippett/Dvorak both day-to-day), that leans even more toward the home side converting a couple of high-leverage moments.
Predicted Score
Our computer projections model for this matchup predicts a final score of Penguins 4, Flyers 3
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