In its first home-playoff game in nearly a decade, the Philadelphia Flyers dominated the Pittsburgh Penguins to take a commanding 3-0 lead in a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series matchup.
Here's how the Flyers put their cross-state rivals on the edge of elimination.
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, Pennsylvania on April 20, 2026.Garnet Hathaway #19 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, Pennsylvania 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, Pennsylvania on April 20, 2026.1 / 10Flyers vs Penguins 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in 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, Pennsylvania on April 20, 2026.1 / 10Flyers vs Penguins 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in 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, Pennsylvania on April 20, 2026.2 / 10Flyers vs Penguins 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in photosGarnet Hathaway #19 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, Pennsylvania on April 20, 2026.3 / 10Flyers vs Penguins 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in 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 / 10Flyers vs Penguins 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in 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 / 10Flyers vs Penguins 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in 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 / 10Flyers vs Penguins 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in 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 / 10Flyers vs Penguins 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in 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 / 10Flyers vs Penguins 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in 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 / 10Flyers vs Penguins 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in 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 / 10Flyers vs Penguins 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs in 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, Pennsylvania on April 20, 2026.Did the Flyers win?Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen celebrates his goal with right wing Porter Martone (94) 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 ImagesAfter the rough first period, it was all Flyers in a 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on April 22.
Down 1-0 in the second, Flyers winger Trevor Zegras tied the game with a powerplay goal assisted by Porter Martone and Jamie Drysdale.
With his first career playoff goal, Rasmus Ristolainen put the Flyers up 2-1 before Nick Seeler made it 3-1.
The Penguins closed the gap in the third with a powerplay goal from defenseman Erik Karlsson.
However, Noah Cates buried home a powerplay goal later in the period to put Philly up 4-2.
Owen Tippett capped it off with an empty-net goal with just over a minute left.
In all, four Flyers scored their first career playoff goals in the game.
Teams are 209-4 all-time in NHL playoff history when going up 3-0 in a series, excluding play in the COVID bubble in 2020.
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With the Flyers trailing 1-0 following an Evgeni Malkin first-period powerplay goal, Travis Konecny lit a spark for the Flyers when he started a scrum with Pittsburgh's Bryan Rust in front of the Penguins net.
It started a near brawl between the two teams and eventually led to standing room only in the penalty boxes with 11 penalties being handed out. Rust received a double minor for roughing, leading to a Flyers' power play.
The moment we Flipped the Script. pic.twitter.com/IJl7k1v4Ts
— x - Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 23, 2026
Penguins center Sidney Crosby certainly isn't a fan favorite in Philadelphia, and he didn't do anything to change those feelings in Game 3.
Near the end of the first period, Crosby was lining up for a faceoff when Philadelphia's Garnet Hathaway caught him in the face with a high stick. Crosby dropped to the ice.
Hathaway high sticked Crosby before the draw, but Crosby was ALSO penalized for embellishment, we play 4 on 4.... pic.twitter.com/QcsGi9wg7J
Hathaway made the diving gesture and yelled at Crosby before being led to the penalty box as fans booed. On-ice officials consulted and the Penguins star was eventually called for embellishment.
Flyers fans are loving Sidney Crosby getting two minutes for embellishment pic.twitter.com/a2gVBZaf4m