The Philadelphia Flyers fans had their brooms out Saturday night, but it was not to be as Sidney Crosby and Company stayed alive in Game 4, cutting the Flyers lead in the best-of-seven series to 3-1.
The Flyers will try to eliminate the Penguins tonight, April 27, on enemy ice in Pittsburgh. If the Flyers win, they will advance and take on the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Flyers lost 4-2 in Game 4 that saw them trail through all three periods.
The Penguins went up 1-0 in the first period off Sidney Crosby's first goal of the series then went up 2-0 in the second with a goal from Rickard Rakell.
The Flyers roared back with a powerplay goal by Denver Barkey and nearly scored to tie the game toward the end of the period.
Game 5: April 27, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (ESPN/NBCSP)
Porter Martone of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period of Game 2 of a first round Stanley Cup playoff series at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on April 20, 2026.Garnet Hathaway of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates after scoring a goal past Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner in the second period of Game 2 of a first-round Stanley Cup playoff series at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on April 20, 2026.Philadelphia Flyers right wing Porter Martone (94) celebrates his goal with the Flyers bench against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period in Game 1 of a first round series in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena in Pittsburgh on April 18, 2026.Porter Martone of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal in the third period of Game 1 of a first round series in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena in Pittsburgh on April 18, 2026.Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar makes a save against Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha during the third period in Game 1 of a first round series in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena in Pittsburgh on April 18, 2026.Jamie Drysdale (9) of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with Denver Barkey (52) after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period of Game 1 of a first round series in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena in Pittsburgh on April 18, 2026.Jamie Drysdaleof the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with Trevor Zegras and Denver Barkey after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period of Game 1 of a first round series in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena in Pittsburgh on April 18, 2026.Philadelphia Flyers goalie Dan Vladar defends the net against Pittsburgh Penguins center Blake Lizotte during the first period in Game 2 of a first round Stanley Cup playoff series at PPG PAINTS Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 20, 2026.Philadelphia Flyers right wing Garnet Hathaway celebrates a short-handed goal against Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner during the second period in Game 2 of a first round Stanley Cup playoff series at PPG PAINTS Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 20, 2026.Philadelphia Flyers right wing Garnet Hathaway scores short-handed goal against Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner during the second period in Game 2 of a first-round Stanley Cup playoff series at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on April 20, 2026.Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (55) celebrates his goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period in game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn ImagesRyan Shea of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Christian Dvorak of the Philadelphia Flyers battle during the second period in Game 3 of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 22, 2026 in Philadelphia on April 22.The Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins battle during the second period in Game 3 of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 22, 2026 in Philadelphia on April 22.Dan Vladar of the Philadelphia Flyers makes a second period save against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 3 of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 22, 2026 in Philadelphia on April 22.Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen celebrates his goal with right wing Porter Martone against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period in Game 3 of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 22, 2026 in Philadelphia on April 22.1 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosPorter Martone of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period of Game 2 of a first round Stanley Cup playoff series at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on April 20, 2026.1 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosPorter Martone of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period of Game 2 of a first round Stanley Cup playoff series at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on April 20, 2026.2 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosGarnet Hathaway of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates after scoring a goal past Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner in the second period of Game 2 of a first-round Stanley Cup playoff series at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on April 20, 2026.3 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosPhiladelphia Flyers right wing Porter Martone (94) celebrates his goal with the Flyers bench against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period in Game 1 of a first round series in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena in Pittsburgh on April 18, 2026.4 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosPorter Martone of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal in the third period of Game 1 of a first round series in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena in Pittsburgh on April 18, 2026.5 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosPhiladelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar makes a save against Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha during the third period in Game 1 of a first round series in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena in Pittsburgh on April 18, 2026.6 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosJamie Drysdale (9) of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with Denver Barkey (52) after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period of Game 1 of a first round series in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena in Pittsburgh on April 18, 2026.7 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosJamie Drysdaleof the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with Trevor Zegras and Denver Barkey after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period of Game 1 of a first round series in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena in Pittsburgh on April 18, 2026.8 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosPhiladelphia Flyers goalie Dan Vladar defends the net against Pittsburgh Penguins center Blake Lizotte during the first period in Game 2 of a first round Stanley Cup playoff series at PPG PAINTS Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 20, 2026.9 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosPhiladelphia Flyers right wing Garnet Hathaway celebrates a short-handed goal against Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner during the second period in Game 2 of a first round Stanley Cup playoff series at PPG PAINTS Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 20, 2026.10 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosPhiladelphia Flyers right wing Garnet Hathaway scores short-handed goal against Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner during the second period in Game 2 of a first-round Stanley Cup playoff series at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on April 20, 2026.11 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosPhiladelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (55) celebrates his goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period in game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images12 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosRyan Shea of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Christian Dvorak of the Philadelphia Flyers battle during the second period in Game 3 of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 22, 2026 in Philadelphia on April 22.13 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosThe Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins battle during the second period in Game 3 of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 22, 2026 in Philadelphia on April 22.14 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosDan Vladar of the Philadelphia Flyers makes a second period save against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 3 of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 22, 2026 in Philadelphia on April 22.15 / 15Flyers go for sweep of Penguins in 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: PhotosPhiladelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen celebrates his goal with right wing Porter Martone against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period in Game 3 of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 22, 2026 in Philadelphia on April 22.Flyers most rabid fanSomething rather large and orange (and slightly unhinged) made his presence known at Game 4 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Ah yes, Gritty. What are the Flyers without the crazy-eyed mascot that is always getting up to some shenanigans — like tossing a plush version of his opponents' mascot down the stadium stairs mid-game.
Curious about Gritty, his origins and whether he's made a playoff appearance before? Well, keep reading.
Gritty was first introduced in 2018 and has been turning heads ever since.
In an October 2018 City Council resolution, Gritty was officially made the new mascot of the Flyers.
"Gritty may be a hideous monster, but he is our hideous monster," the resolution stated.
As far as Gritty's looks and overall vibes are concerned, he was also described as "a 7-foot tall orange hellion, a fuzzy eldritch horror, a ghastly empty-eyed Muppet with a Delco beard, a cross of Snuffleupagus and Oscar the Grouch, a deranged orange lunatic, an acid trip of a mascot, a shaggy orange Wookiee-esque grotesquerie, a non-binary leftist icon, an orange menace, a raging id, and an antihero," by the council's resolution, as well as, "huggable but also potentially insurrectionary, ridiculous, horrifying, unsettling, and absurd."
While this isn't technically Gritty's first appearance in the playoffs, the last time the Flyers made it to the post season was in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in what the NHL called "the bubble," so the Stanley Cup tournament looked much different than the fan-packed stadiums we are seeing now.
Gritty did try to infiltrate the locked-down Toronto arena where the games were played, but was told by NHL officials that there was no COVID testing available for him.
The Flyers made it to round 2 of the 2020 playoff season, where they then lost to the New York Islanders.
With the Flyers back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, Gritty is making the most of the opportunity.
And the mascot's drive to entertain fans on and off of the ice through stadium shenanigans and a hilarious social media presence is unmatched.
Aside from beating the stuffing out of a life-sized penguin plushie, Gritty has mocked — and stalked — the team's fans.
"Get home safe," Gritty captioned a video of sprinting Penguins fans before the camera pans to him chasing them in one social media post. An on-screen caption reads, "Helping random penguins fans get home safe pt 2."