Penguins Rout Flyers in Season Opener

As player introductions took place for the Philadelphia Flyers, it felt like the standing ovation from the end of an unlikely playoff run the season before was still in effect. There were several notable cheers, and it still felt like a team that had won the hearts of the city, the fan base eager to see the next chapter and the growth that comes.

Well, you can't have growth without growing pains, and the opener on the 2026-27 season was a giant pain. The Pittsburgh Penguins rolled out to a 2-0 lead in the first and added three more goals in the second, taking a commanding 7-0 decision on Wednesday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

How It Happened

The Flyers fell behind at 7:26 of the first period. After a big hit on Sidney Crosby by Rasmus Ristolainen, the Penguins maintained possesses and Kris Letang set up Nicolas Robertson for the redirect at the side of the net to make it 1-0.

Pittsburgh added to the lead at 15:44. Off a bad line change by the Flyers, Ville Koivunen was able to get loose on a breakaway and scored through the five-hole of Daniel Vladar to make it 2-0.

Through 20 minutes, shots were 11-5 Pittsburgh.

The Penguins piled it on in the second, continuing to cash in on Flyers' mistakes. An early power play resulted in a goal for Evgeni Malkin, who ripped one from the slot to make it 3-0 at 5:03. Just over two minutes later, Hendrix Lapierre capitalized on a two-on-one to make it 4-0 at 7:26. Pittsburgh added another at 10:23 out of a netmouth scramble with Filip Hallander getting the goal to make it 5-0.

Roberrtso scored again shorthanded, as his shot deflected off the stick of Jamie Drysdale, off the end boards, and then off of Vladar's leg and in to make it 6-0 at 11:52 of the third. Egor Chinakhov capped off the night with a power-play goal with 3:23 remaining to make it 7-0.

Box Score

1st Period

PIT Nicolas Robertson (1) (Kris Letang, Sidney Crosby) 7:26
PIT Ville Koivunen (1) (Samuel Girard, Kaedan Korczak) 15:44

2nd Period

PIT Evgeni Malkin (1) PP (Hendrix Lapierre, Thomas Novak) 5:03
PIT Lapierre (1) (Filip Hallander, Declan Carlile) 7:26
PIT Hallander (1) (Korczak, Girard) 10:23

3rd Period

PIT Robertson (2) SH (Hallander) 11:52
PIT Egor Chinakhov (1) PP (Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell) 16:37

By the Numbers

Shots: Flyers: 19, Penguins: 38
Power Play: Flyers: 0-for-3, Penguins: 2-for-4
Faceoffs: Flyers: 63.8%, Penguins: 36.2%
Goalies: PHI Dan Vladar: 31 saves on 38 shots, PIT Arturs Silovs: 19 saves on 19 shots

Key Performers

⭐ Filip Hallander — Hallander had a goal and two assists for a three-point game. In 16 career games prior, he had one goal and three assists, so it was easily the biggest night of his young career.

⭐⭐ Nick Robertson — Big night for the new Penguin, who scored twice, including to open the scoring.

⭐⭐⭐ Arturs Silovs — It wasn't the greatest shutout by the numbers, 19 saves on 19 shots, but much like the end of the playoff series, when Silovs took over for Pittsburgh, he was solid the whole way through.

The Takeaway

Usually from games like this, there's not much to take away other than to flush it and move on. But this is the first impression for the season from this Flyers' team. And man, was it an embarrassing showing.

Forget the score. It's in the details. Yes, it was a shortened training camp and preseason, but one team came ready to go for the drop of the puck and the other looked as unprepared as it gets. Not skating to match the energy of the opposition. Sloppy line changes. It's all in the details, and they were all lacking for the Orange and Black.

It may only be one game, and there's plenty of time to become what you're going to become. But it's also a clear reminder that this isn't last season, and you're going to have to be a lot better to be the team that you want to be going forward.