Flyers vs Penguins schedule set

The National Hockey League has set the first-round Flyers-Penguins playoff series, with Game 1 scheduled for Saturday, April 18, in Pittsburgh. (nhl.com) The best-of-seven series opens at PPG Paints Arena with Games 1 and 2 on April 18 and April 20, then shifts to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4 on April 22 and April 25. If needed, Games 5, 6 and 7 are set for April 27, April 29 and May 2. (sportingnews.com) Pittsburgh has home-ice advantage because it finished second in the Metropolitan Division, while Philadelphia finished third. CBS Philadelphia reported the Penguins ended the regular season with 98 points and the Flyers reached the bracket after snapping their postseason drought. (cbsnews.com) The matchup puts the “Battle of Pennsylvania” back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in years. PhillyVoice reported playoff hockey is returning to Philadelphia for the first time in eight years, with Game 3 set for Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Center. (phillyvoice.com) The series also brings together two teams at different points in their cycle. CBS Philadelphia described the Flyers as coming out of a three-year rebuild, while Pittsburgh leans on Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang for another run. (cbsnews.com) This is the eighth postseason series between the franchises. CBS Philadelphia reported Philadelphia has won four of the previous seven playoff meetings, but Pittsburgh has controlled more of the rivalry in the Sidney Crosby era. (cbsnews.com) National television windows are already attached to the early games. Sporting News reported Games 1 and 2 are set for ESPN, Game 3 for TNT, and later game assignments remain subject to the series extending. (sportingnews.com) The calendar is set now; the opener is next. Philadelphia starts on the road Saturday night, and the series reaches South Philadelphia on April 22. (sports.yahoo.com)