Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers 2026 NHL Playoffs Series Preview, Picks, Odds

By Kody Malstrom | Apr 17, 2026, 7:57pm

After winning their last three games in a row, the Philadelphia Flyers are red hot heading into the playoffs. Even though their offense has struggled to give them the production they need to be a well rounded contender, their defense has been able to keep them competitive, starting a back line who ranks near the top of the board in most defensive metrics.

In a first round matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins, their back line will be tested, battling it out against a unit who sits near the top of the board in Expected Goals For. With negative regression looming large over their defense, the Flyers run may come to an end quickly, failing to field an offense who can keep pace with them.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Series Betting Analysis

Since the start of the regular season, the Flyers back line have arguably been one of the more productive units in the league, ranking in the top-3 in Expected Goals Against in All Situations and in 5-on-5 Play. Their suffocating coverage makes it hard for opposing front lines to break away from their assignments, drastically lowering the quality of their Shots on Goal.

With their back line consistently smothering opposing shot attempts, Dan Vlader has been able to string together his performances, averaging just 2.42 Goals Against per game and a .906 Save Percentage. With Vlader playing at a very high level on a nightly basis, the Flyers are able to reduce the amount of variance in their contests, increasing their chances of winning.

Every bit of their back line’s production has been needed to keep them afloat this year, masking a front line who ranks near dead last in Expected Goals For in All Situations. Their lack of depth makes it tough for them to create enough space to generate high quality Shots on Goal, possessing just four players who average more than 0.25 Expected Goals per game.

Unfortunately for the Flyers, their struggles on offense are poised to persist against the Pittsburgh Penguins, needing to break through a back line who ranks in the top-15 in Expected Goals Against From High Danger Shots. With the Penguins keeping opposing forwards out of the crease, they are able to mask Stuart Skinner’s struggles in net, making it easier for them to pull away to secure the win.

With Skinner’s inconsistencies in net, I want to keep my options open over the course of the series in case his legs start to give out. By betting on Pittsburgh to win game one and the series, I can monitor if I need to bet the other side to secure a profit, especially if the Flyers are able to pressure the Penguins goalie and keep it uncomfortably close on the scoreboard.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Series Prediction, Pick & Best Bet

Penguins to win game one and the series moneyline parlay is the series best bet. If you don’t like parlays, though, then try the Pens to win 4-3 for good value.

Best Bet: Penguins Game 1 ML / Series ML Parlay (+130)
Best Bet: Penguins 4-3 (+425)
Series Prediction: Penguins 4-3 (+425)

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Series Schedule

Sat., Apr. 18 – Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, Game 1 – 8:00 p.m./ESPN
Mon., Apr. 20 – Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, Game 2 – 7:00 p.m./ESPN
Wed., Apr. 22 – Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, Game 3 – 7:00 p.m./TNT
Sat., Apr. 25 – Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, Game 4 – 8:00 p.m./TBS
Mon., Apr. 27 – Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, Game 5 if nec. – TBD
Wed., Apr. 29 – Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, Game 6 if nec. – TBD
Sat., May 2 – Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, Game 7 if nec. – TBD

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Series Odds

Series Winner

Penguins (-170)
Flyers (+140)

Series Spread

Penguins +1.5 (-320)
Penguins -1.5 (+115)
Penguins +2.5 (-900)
Penguins -2.5 (+240)
Flyers +1.5 (-135)
Flyers -1.5 (+250)
Flyers +2.5 (-300)
Flyers -2.5 (+600)

Total Games

4 Games (+550)
5 Games (+265)
6 Games (+205)
7 Games (+215)

Series Score

Penguins 4-0 (+850)
Penguins 4-1 (+425)
Penguins 4-2 (+425)
Penguins 4-3 (+425)
Flyers 4-0 (+2000)
Flyers 4-1 (+1000)
Flyers 4-2 (+600)
Flyers 4-3 (+650)

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Series Betting Resources

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Series Players to Watch

Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby – Season Stats: 29 goals, 45 assists
Bryan Rust – Season Stats: 29 goals, 36 assists
Stuart Skinner – Season Stats: 23-17-9, 2.92 GAA, .888 SV%

Philadelphia Flyers

Owen Tippett – Season Stats: 28 goals, 23 assists, -6
Trevor Zegras – Season Stats: 26 goals, 41 assists
Dan Vlader – Season Stats: 29-14-7, 2.42 GAA, .906 SV%

Photo Credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar

Kody Malstrom

Kody is a professional sports bettor and sports betting journalist with eight years of experience in the industry. He covers a wide range of sports, including NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NCAAB, NHL, MLB, and UFC. What started as a side gig has turned into a full time job, spending a majority of his time staring at odds screens and market movement. When away from the computer, Kody enjoys spending his time outdoors relaxing at the beach or golfing with friends.