Flyers vs. Penguins Prediction & Picks - NHL Playoffs First Round Game 1

The Philadelphia Flyers take the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins for Game 1 of the NHL Playoffs First Round on Saturday, April 18, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. Bookmakers list the Flyers as underdogs in this matchup, giving them +121 moneyline odds against the Penguins (-145).

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Before watching this matchup, here is our pick for which club will bring home the win in Saturday's NHL Playoffs First Round action.

Flyers vs. Penguins Predictions for Saturday

Our computer model for this contest predicts a final result of Penguins 4, Flyers 2.

• Moneyline Pick: Penguins (-145)
• Total Pick: Over 6 (computer predicts 6.4 goals on average)
• Spread Pick: Pick Em

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Penguins Splits and Trends

• The Penguins have a 41-25-16 record overall, with a 7-16-23 record in contests that have gone to overtime.
• Pittsburgh is 9-7-6 (24 points) in its 22 games decided by one goal.
• The eight times this season the Penguins ended a game with just one goal, they went 0-5-3 (three points).
• Pittsburgh has taken four points from the 11 games this season when it scored two goals (0-7-4 record).
• The Penguins have scored more than two goals 58 times, and are 41-8-9 in those games (to record 91 points).
• In the 29 games when Pittsburgh has capitalized on a lone power-play goal, it picked up 35 points after finishing 14-8-7.
• In the 44 games when it outshot its opponent, Pittsburgh is 21-14-9 (51 points).
• The Penguins' opponents have had more shots in 33 games. The Penguins went 15-11-7 in those matchups (37 points).

Flyers Splits and Trends

• The Flyers have a record of 43-27-12 this season and are 16-12-28 in overtime contests.
• Philadelphia has earned 22 points (7-5-8) in its 20 games decided by one goal.
• In 13 games this season when the Flyers ended a game with just one goal, they earned a total of four points (0-9-4).
• Philadelphia has 20 points (8-8-4) when scoring a pair of goals this season.
• The Flyers have scored at least three goals 46 times, earning 74 points from those matchups (35-7-4).
• Philadelphia has scored a lone power-play goal in 25 games this season and has recorded 33 points from those matchups.
• When it outshoots its opponent this season, Philadelphia has posted a record of 17-14-3 (37 points).
• The Flyers have been outshot by opponents 43 times this season, and earned 55 points in those games.

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Team Stats Comparison

Flyers vs. Penguins Game Time and TV Channel

• When: Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET
• TV Channel: ESPN
• Where: PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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