Game Details

📅

Date

Monday, April 27, 2026

⏰

Time

7:00 PM ET (6:00 PM CT / 4:00 PM PT)

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Venue

PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

ℹ️

Series

2026 NHL Playoffs — Round 1, Game 5

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Series Score

Philadelphia Flyers lead 3-1

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ESPN, SportsNet Pittsburgh

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Radio

105.9 The X & Penguins App

Betting Odds

💰 Live Markets

Moneyline

N/A

Puck Line (-1.5)

N/A

Over/Under

N/A

Odds for this game were not available from verified sources at the time of publication. Always shop lines at multiple licensed sportsbooks before placing any wagers.

Preview: Penguins on the Brink in a Battle of Pennsylvania

Monday night at PPG Paints Arena carries all the weight that a potential franchise-defining evening can carry. The Pittsburgh Penguins — a team built around one of the greatest players in hockey history — face elimination at home in Game 5 against the Philadelphia Flyers, who arrive with a commanding 3-1 series lead and all the momentum of a young, hungry squad that has spent much of this playoff run looking like anything but a surprise.

What makes this matchup so compelling is the narrative layered beneath the box scores. This is Sidney Crosby's 38th year on earth, Evgeni Malkin's 39th, and Kris Letang's 38th. For each of them, a first-round exit could signal the beginning of the end of an extraordinary era. The Penguins finished the regular season at 41-25-16 for 98 points — a respectable showing — but they visibly ran out of gas over the final two weeks, dropping three of their last five games by a combined score of 13-8.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, rolled in with a 4-1 record across their final five regular-season games, outscoring opponents 20-9, and they have not let their foot off the gas in this series. The Flyers are young, fast, and have found a new identity under their emerging core. They blitzed the Penguins in the first three games of this series before Pittsburgh finally found some life in Game 4, winning 4-2 to stave off the sweep. Now they must do it again — at home — in front of what promises to be a boisterous, desperate Pittsburgh crowd.

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Pittsburgh Penguins Analysis

The 2025-26 Pittsburgh Penguins were a fascinating team to watch: veteran excellence coexisting with exciting youth, all wrapped in the perpetual drama of chasing one more championship window.

Sidney Crosby turned in yet another elite campaign, notching 29 goals and 45 assists for 74 points at age 38. That kind of production at that stage of a career is staggering, and Crosby remains one of the most dangerous two-way forwards in the game on his best nights. He will need every bit of that urgency Monday if the Penguins are going to extend this series.

Erik Karlsson was arguably Pittsburgh's most impactful player on a per-shift basis this season, registering 15 goals and 51 assists for 66 points from the blue line — an elite offensive defenseman performance that validates why the Penguins made him a cornerstone of their back end. His ability to quarterback the power play and create in transition gives Pittsburgh a weapon few teams can match.

The surprise of the season, however, was rookie forward Ben Kindel. Selected 11th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, the 18-year-old slotted immediately into Pittsburgh's lineup and produced 17 goals and 18 assists (35 points) in his debut season — a remarkable showing for a teenager adjusting to the NHL. Kindel's hockey sense and shot have impressed scouts all year, and his playoff contributions will be worth watching as the Penguins lean on him in a must-win situation.

Egor Chinakhov (18G, 18A, 36P) and Justin Brazeau (17G, 17A, 34P) add offensive depth, while Evgeni Malkin — now 39 — continues to bring veteran leadership and playmaking ability even as his role has evolved late in his career.

On defense, Kris Letang posted 3 goals and 31 assists this season. At 38, he is no longer the dynamo of his prime years, but he remains experienced and capable of big moments in the playoffs. The loss of Caleb Jones (shoulder, IR since April 5) has thinned Pittsburgh's defensive depth at a critical time.

Pittsburgh's team statistics told an interesting story this season: 3.54 goals per game (impressive offense) against 3.15 allowed per game (concerning defense). Their power play was strong at 24.1%, but their penalty kill at 81.4% was below league average — a vulnerability the Flyers exploited in Games 1-3. The Penguins must be cleaner defensively and more disciplined on Monday night if they want to live another day.

Their last five regular-season games were a warning sign: 2-3, with a pair of lopsided losses to Washington and a 7-5 drubbing by St. Louis to close the schedule. After Game 4's bounce-back win, the hope is that the Penguins rediscovered something — but the Flyers will be equally motivated to close things out on the road.

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Philadelphia Flyers Analysis

The Philadelphia Flyers entered these playoffs having completed a quietly excellent regular season: 43-27-12, 98 points, and a top-four seed in the Metropolitan Division. With the same point total as the Penguins, the Flyers' superior win total (43 vs. 41) gave them home-ice advantage — and they have used it efficiently, building the 3-1 series lead.

Philadelphia's engine is Travis Konecny, who put together the best season of his career with 27 goals and 41 assists for 68 points. The 28-year-old winger is tireless, physical, and clutch — exactly what you want from your best player in a playoff series. He has been a consistent threat throughout this matchup.

The player everyone is talking about, though, is Matvei Michkov. The 21-year-old Russian phenom — the seventh overall pick in the 2023 draft — had a breakout regular season with 20 goals and 31 assists for 51 points, and his skill level in tight spaces is something the Penguins have had no answer for. Michkov's creativity and his willingness to take the dangerous shot make him a matchup nightmare.

Owen Tippett (28G, 23A, 51P) and Christian Dvorak (18G, 33A, 51P) round out a potent offensive group, supported by Noah Cates (47P) providing excellent secondary production. Sean Couturier, the captain, contributed 36 points while providing his usual elite two-way center play. The Flyers are deep across all four lines.

On the back end, Travis Sanheim (11G, 26A, 37P) has been the Flyers' best defenseman — a smooth, mobile defender who can contribute offensively and anchor their top pairing. Jamie Drysdale (8G, 24A, 32P) adds offense from the right side.

In goal, Dan Vladar has been outstanding. His 29-14-7 record and 2.42 GAA during the regular season made him one of the more underrated goalies in the Eastern Conference. He has been sturdy in this series. Samuel Ersson (14-11-5, 3.12 GAA) backs him up.

The injury concern for Philadelphia is defenseman Emil Andrae (upper-body), who missed Game 4 after being injured on April 20. His availability for Game 5 is in question. Nikita Grebenkin (upper-body) remains out for the start of the postseason. Forward Rodrigo Abols (fractured right ankle, January 17) has been on long-term IR and is unlikely to factor in.

Philadelphia's regular-season stats painted a picture of a defensively responsible team: 2.93 goals per game for, 2.91 against — among the tightest margins in the league. Their 15.7% power play was below average, but their ability to win at even strength and their goaltending have been the foundation of their series success.

Head-to-Head and Betting Trends

The 2025-26 regular season meetings between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia were evenly contested: the teams split four games 2-2, with two going to shootout. The Flyers won at home on October 28 (3-2 SO) and in Pittsburgh on March 7 (4-3 SO). The Penguins won on December 1 in Philadelphia (5-1) and at home on January 15 (6-3). The regular-season series offered no clear edge.

In the playoffs, however, the Flyers have been dominant:

Game	Date	Result	Series
Game 1	vs PHI	PHI 3, PIT 2	PHI leads 1-0
Game 2	vs PHI	PHI 3, PIT 0	PHI leads 2-0
Game 3	at PHI	PHI 5, PIT 2	PHI leads 3-0
Game 4	at PHI	PIT 4, PHI 2	PHI leads 3-1
Game 5	at PIT	TBD	PHI leads 3-1

Philadelphia's ability to shut down Pittsburgh's offense in Games 1 through 3 was striking — holding the Penguins to 2, 0, and 2 goals respectively against the Penguins' regular-season 3.54 goals-per-game average. Pittsburgh's Game 4 bounce-back (4 goals) may reflect a desperation-fueled reset, but the Flyers have shown throughout this series that their structure limits the Penguins' best weapons.

Historically, teams that fall behind 3-0 in a best-of-seven rarely come back — only three teams in NHL history have ever done so. Teams down 3-1 fare somewhat better, winning roughly 20% of the time. The Penguins will need to be at their best, while the Flyers simply need to play their game.

Prediction & Best Bets

🎯 Best Bet

Our Pick

📊 Philadelphia Flyers 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 2

This is a game framed by survival instinct. The Penguins — with Crosby, Malkin, and a home crowd — will not go down without a fight. PPG Paints Arena will be loud, the veterans will be motivated, and Game 4 showed that Pittsburgh is capable of generating offense. That said, the Flyers have been the better team throughout this series and have superior recent momentum. Philadelphia's youth and depth have overwhelmed Pittsburgh's aging core in three of four games. Dan Vladar has been excellent, their defensive structure has been tighter, and Michkov and Konecny give them the kind of creative scorers who can change a game at any moment.

FAQ

Where is Game 5 being played?

Game 5 is at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — the Penguins' home rink.

What time does the Penguins vs. Flyers Game 5 start?

The game is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET on Monday, April 27, 2026. It airs on ESPN and SportsNet Pittsburgh.

What is the current series score between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia?

The Philadelphia Flyers lead the first-round series 3-1. A Flyers win tonight would eliminate the Penguins.

Who are the key injury concerns for this game?

For Philadelphia, defenseman Emil Andrae (upper-body) missed Game 4 and his status for Game 5 is uncertain. Forward Nikita Grebenkin is also out. For Pittsburgh, defenseman Caleb Jones (shoulder) is on injured reserve.

Has Sidney Crosby ever come back from a 3-1 series deficit?

Crosby's Penguins have experienced playoff adversity before, but a 3-1 deficit is historically very difficult to overcome. Only three teams in NHL history have accomplished the comeback from 3-0 down; down 3-1 odds are better but still unfavorable. This would be a remarkable chapter in a storied career if Pittsburgh manages to pull it off. ---