The NHL playoffs begin Saturday, April 18 with three exciting Game 1s, including Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers. This is the first all-Pennsylvania playoff series since 2018, when Sidney Crosby and the Penguins beat the Flyers in six games.
Penguins vs Flyers Same Game Parlay: Best Value in Game 1
- Our best value picks for Game 1 of the Penguins vs. Flyers series (+600)
- Sidney Crosby has four goals in his last three games against Philadelphia
- Penguins vs. Flyers First Round Schedule
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Sidney Crosby is playing his first NHL playoff game since 2022. Expect a big game for the Penguins captain.
In our Game 1 NHL Playoffs parlay for the Penguins and Flyers, we’re expecting plenty of goals and banking on big stars hitting the scoresheet.
You can also check out some of the other best NHL odds today for the other first round series, including the Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning.
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Penguins vs. Flyers Game 1 Same Game Parlay
| Bet | Odds |
|---|---|
 Over 5.5 goals |
-155 |
 Sidney Crosby Anytime Goal Scorer |
+170 |
 Matvei Michkov over 0.5 points |
+125 |
| Total SGP odds | +600 |
Odds provided by bet365
Over 5.5 goals for Penguins vs. Flyers | -155 at bet365
The Penguins and Flyers have had some high-scoring affairs in their last few playoff meetings. Here’s a quick look at the scores from their 2018 first round series:
- Game 1: Pittsburgh 7 – 0 Philadelphia
- Game 2: Philadelphia 5 – 1 Pittsburgh
- Game 3: Pittsburgh 5 – 1 Philadelphia
- Game 4: Pittsburgh 5 – 0 Philadelphia
- Game 5: Philadelphia 4 – 2 Pittsburgh
- Game 6: Pittsburgh 8 – 5 Philadelphia
That’s five of six games that went over the 5.5 total we’re selecting for our Saturday NHL picks for Penguins vs. Flyers SGP. While the two teams are quite different in 2026, the Penguins finished third in goals per game this season (3.54).
Neither team is that secure in their goaltending, either.
Sidney Crosby anytime goal scorer | +170 at bet365
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Sid “The Kid” is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2022 and, while he may be 38 years old, he’s still playing at an elite level. He recorded his 21st consecutive point-per-game season in 2025-26 and scored 29 goals.
Crosby is particularly fond of playing the Flyers. He has seven goals and eight assists in his last 10 games against Philadelphia, including four in three games this season.
Matvei Michkov over 0.5 points | +125 at bet365
Flyers second-year sensation Matvei Michkov had an interesting first year in the NHL. He was on the receiving end of some harsh criticism from head coach Rick Tocchet at times, but played incredibly well down the stretch, finishing the season with 51 points (20 goals, 31 assists) in 81 games.
Michkov scored in each of the Flyers last three games of the season and had 11 points in the team’s final seven games. Look for him to keep this pace going in what should be a wide-open series.
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Penguins vs. Flyers First Round Playoff Schedule
The Penguins vs. Flyers series begins Saturday, April 18 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Game 7, if the series goes the distance, is May 2.
Game 1: Saturday, April 18, 8 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh
Game 2: Monday, April 20, 7 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh
Game 3: Wednesday, April 22, 7 p.m. in Philadelphia
Game 4: Saturday, April 25, 8 p.m. ET in Philadelphia
Game 5: Monday, April 27, TBD, in Pittsburgh
Game 6: Wednesday, April 29, TBD, in Philadelphia
Game 7: Saturday, May 2, TBD, in Pittsburgh
Penguins vs. Flyers Same Game Parlay FAQs
When is Game 1 of the Penguins vs. Flyers series?
Game 1 of the Penguins vs. Flyers series takes place Saturday, April 19, at 8 p.m. ET. The best-of-seven series begins with two games in Pittsburgh before shifting to Philadelphia for Game 3 on April 22.
Is Sidney Crosby playing in the playoffs?
Yes, Sidney Crosby is healthy and active for the NHL playoffs. The Penguins captain missed time this season with an MCL injury, suffered at the Winter Olympics, but had a strong season. He finished the year with 74 points (29 goals, 45 assists) in 68 games.
Who has the shortest anytime goal odds for the Penguins vs. Flyers?
Generally the team’s best goalscorers from the regular season have the shortest odds to score in anytime goal scorer markets. For the Penguins vs. Flyers series, that means players like Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, and Tyson Forester have some of the shortest odds.
Further down the board, keep an eye on players like Anthony Mantha and Porter Martone.
When is the Stanley Cup Finals?
The Stanley Cup playoffs run all the way into June, finishing just before the NHL Draft. The Stanley Cup Finals is expected to finish no later than June 21.
Chris Roberts
