Flyers Game
Flyers Game 9, Keystone Rivals: Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs. Penguins
The Philadelphia Flyers (4-3-1) host the Pittsburgh Penguins (7-2-1) as they kick off the 2025-26 Keystone State Rivalry series in Philadelphia.
Pittsburgh is off to a hot start, with ole reliables Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin leading the offensive production for the Penguins. The Flyers are also off to a bit of a surprising start, outplaying the expectations set on the team early.
Philadelphia has yet to get the production they look for out of guys like Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny, but has found the Cates line buzzing once again, with Trevor Zegras picking up steam, and Owen Tippett leading the team in goals.
Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m. EST, a part of the NHL Frozen Frenzy. All 32 teams are in action on Tuesday.
Rick Tocchet has confirmed that Sam Ersson will make his second-straight start, and that Nikita Grebenkin and Adam Ginning come out, with Nick Deslauriers and Egor Zamula drawing back in to the lineup.
Here is how the Flyers are expected to line up.
Read More: Who Should Be the Flyers’ Next Call Up?
Flyers Lines & Pairs vs. Penguins
Forwards
Travis Konecny – Sean Couturier – Owen Tippett
Tyson Foerster – Noah Cates – Bobby Brink
Trevor Zegras – Christian Dvorak – Matvei Michkov
Nick Deslauriers – Rodrigo Abols – Garnet Hathaway
Defensemen
Cam York – Travis Sanheim
Nick Seeler – Jamie Drysdale
Egor Zamula – Noah Juulsen
Goaltenders
Sam Ersson
Dan Vladar
Special Teams
PP1: Drysdale, Couturier, Michkov, Tippett, Konecny
PP2: York, Cates, Zegras, Foerster, Brink
PK1:Â Couturier, Konecny, Seeler, Sanheim
PK 2:Â Dvorak, Hathaway,York, Juulsen
Things to Watch For
Tuesday night is the first of four matchups in the Keystone State rivalry. The rivalry has not been the same of late, but both teams have certainly played above expectations so far, with the Penguins being a big surprise.
Pittsburgh is off to a hot start, going 7-2-1 – the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. It was indeed a down year for the Penguins last season. The new year has seen improvement all around.
It is goaltending that has really provided some juice for Pittsburgh. Tristan Jarry, who was waived last season, is leading the way. In five games, Jarry is 4-1-0 with a 2.62 GAA and a .917 SV%. Arturs Silovs is also playing great. Silovs, who is expected to start against the Flyers, has a 2.56 GAA and a .914 SV% in his five games, going 3-1-1. Both goalies have had a shutout this season.
The Flyers are going to have a tough task beating the Penguins’ goalie. It could be a low-scoring matchup.
A new spark to the Keystone State Rivalry: Rick Tocchet behind the bench in Philadelphia. Tocchet, of course, is very familiar with Pittsburgh. The Flyers’ bench boss played three seasons with the Penguins and was an assistant there for three years. He has two Stanley Cups with the Penguins as an assistant coach and one as a player.
Tocchet has a history with both clubs. Could this be the spark needed to revive the great rivalry?
Read More: Flyers GM Provides Update on Injured Defensemen
Previous Matchups
Last season, the Flyers and Penguins split the season series, with each team winning at home. The Flyers outscored the Penguins 16-15 in the season series last year.
Bobby Brink was the Flyers’ leading point scorer against Pittsburgh last season, tallying a goal and five assists for six points. Noah Cates led the team in goals scored against the Penguins with four.
Erik Karlsson and Evgeni Malkin each had six points against the Flyers last season. Karlsson scored three goals and had three assists; Malkin scored twice and had four assists. Sidney Crosby played in one less game than Karlsson and Malkin, and was just one point shy of their mark with five. Crosby scored a goal and had four assists in three games against the Flyers last season.
How to Watch
TV: ESPN (National Broadcast), ESPN+ (Stream)
Radio: 93.3 WMMR
Puck drop is at 6:00 p.m. EST at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Why oh why Nick D over Grebenkin? I thought we were looking to the future. In 3-4 years Grebenkin could be part of a core group. Nick will not be here. This was my fear when they hired the coach – old time hockey.q
Best guess is that it’s a rivalry. Dlo will probably drop the gloves at some point, looking for an energy boost or something.
Grebenkin also has not looked perfect. Against a more veteran team, it may be a good chance for him to learn by watching.
But also, it’s game 9 of 82. Lots of opportunity left for Grebenkin.
100% agree. Watched the Pens last evening vs the blues. They were flying around with plenty of puck possession. Nick won’t help with any of that. One fight and 7 mins of TOI, doesn’t add up.