Game Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Philadelphia Flyers, December 1, 2025
Who:
- Pittsburgh Penguins (12-7-5, 29 points, 5th place in the Metropolitan Division)
- Philadelphia Flyers (14-7-3, 31 points, 4th place in the Metropolitan Division)
When:
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Where to Watch:
- Locally: Sportsnet Pittsburgh and NBC Sports Philadelphia
- Nationally: NHL Network
The Penguins' Journey:
The Penguins' challenging three-game road trip continues, with a second stop in Tampa on Thursday and concluding in Dallas on Sunday.
Opponent Overview:
The Flyers are on a roll, winning their last three games and five of their last six. In their most recent game, they defeated New Jersey 5-3 on the road on Saturday night.
Season Series:
Philadelphia secured a 3-2 shootout victory over Pittsburgh on October 28th. Bobby Brink was the star, scoring a goal, providing an assist, and the deciding shootout goal. The teams will meet twice more this season, both in Pittsburgh, on January 15th and March 7th.
Hidden Stat:
This game is one of only two Metropolitan Division matchups for the Penguins in December. The second and final one is scheduled for the last game of the month, on December 30th, against Carolina.
Getting to Know the Flyers:
Projected Lines:
Forwards:
- Tyson Foerster - Noah Cates - Travis Konecny
- Trevor Zegras - Christan Dvorak - Owen Tippett
- Matvei Michkov - Sean Couturier - Bobby Brink
- Nikita Grebenkin - Rodrigo Abols - Garnet Hathaway
Defensemen:
- Cam York / Travis Sanheim
- Emil Andrae / Jamie Drysdale
- Nick Seeler / Egor Zamula
Goalies:
- Dan Vladar
- Samuel Ersson
Potential Scratches:
- Nicolas Deslauriers
- Noah Juulsen
Injured Reserve:
- Rasmus Ristolainen
Dan Vladar's Performance:
- Vladar has been impressive, with a 5-1-1 record, a 2.54 GAA, and a .913 save percentage in his last seven games, including four consecutive wins. He made 29 saves out of 32 shots in the recent game against New Jersey.
Key Players:
- Trevor Zegras: After two underperforming seasons in Anaheim, Zegras has been a valuable addition to the Flyers. His acquisition, despite not being expensive, has proven to be a smart move.
- Christian Dvorak: On a one-year free agent contract, Dvorak is on a path to surpass his previous highs in goals, assists, and points.
- Bobby Brink: Brink has a history of excelling against the Penguins, with eight points in nine games vs. PIT, compared to 72 points in 161 games against the rest of the NHL.
Key Matchup: Penguin Offense vs. Flyer Defense
The Flyers have demonstrated strong defensive capabilities, excelling in shot attempt-based metrics like Corsi and Fenwick. Their goaltending and penalty-killing have also been impressive. Conversely, the Penguins have been proficient at creating expected goals but less successful at converting them into actual goals. However, they remain a top-tier power play team.
The Penguins' Lineup:
Projected Lines:
Forwards:
- Kevin Hayes - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
- Tommy Novak - Evgeni Malkin - Anthony Mantha
- Ville Koivunen - Ben Kindel - (to be determined)
- Joona Koppanen - Blake Lizotte - Connor Dewar
Defensemen:
- Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
- Ryan Shea / Kris Letang
- Ryan Graves / Matt Dumba
Goalies:
- Arturs Silovs
- Tristan Jarry
Potential Scratches:
- Connor Clifton
- Harrison Brunicke (AHL rehab assignment)
Injured Reserve:
- Filip Hallander
- Justin Brazeau
- Rickard Rakell
- Caleb Jones
- Noel Acciari
Pens' Strategy and Outlook:
- The Penguins are expected to make lineup changes, with potential returns from injured players like Rakell and Brazeau. The recent 7-2 loss to Toronto may prompt further adjustments.
- Dan Muse, addressing the team's performance, emphasizes the need for better defensive play and consistency. He acknowledges that some chances given up are preventable and that the team needs to tighten up and make it harder for opponents to score.
- The team's consistency has been a challenge, with more losses than wins in November after a strong October. Muse highlights the importance of every point in a tight league and the need for sustainable defensive play.
