The Penguins open the 2026-27 season on the road Wednesday night against the Flyers, and the setting is familiar: Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, with puck drop set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
It’s the kind of matchup that already carries some baggage. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia split their four regular-season meetings in 2025-26, but the Flyers got the last word when they seized a 3-0 lead in the first round and sent the Penguins out in six games.
Now Pittsburgh gets a fresh start, with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang all back for another season. The question hanging over the opener is simple enough: can the Penguins answer with a rivalry win right out of the gate?
SportsNet Pittsburgh will have live coverage throughout the night.
The game will air on TNT and can also be streamed on DIRECTV.
After Wednesday’s opener, the Penguins return home to face the Canadiens on Oct. 3 at 7 p.m., then host the Jets on Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. They’ll be back on the road after that, visiting the Capitals on Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and the Blue Jackets on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.
The Flyers, meanwhile, continue their early stretch with a trip to the Devils on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. They’ll host the Hurricanes on Oct. 3 at 7 p.m., then head to the Lightning on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. before visiting the Senators on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.
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Penguins End Preseason With An Encouraging Defensive Statement
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With the 2026-27 season set to open against the Springfield Thunderbirds on Oct. 3, the performance gives Pittsburghs organization a clean defensive benchmark to carry into the final stretch before the schedule turns real. Preseason results can be tricky to read, but a shutout built on special teams and structure is the kind of outing that tends to stick in a coachs mind a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Sidney Crosby Still Looks Driven By Something Penguins Fans Need To See
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Crosby has talked about how much he still loves the game and how much winning continues to matter, even after a long career and recent international play. For the Penguins, that matters as much as anything else this fall. The organization is trying to sort out what comes next, and the captains daily drive offers a reminder that the competitive fire is still there, even if the bigger question is how far it can carry them. [Read more 🡒]
McGing Gets An Emotional First Test In Penguins Home Opener
Hugh McGings first game for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton comes with a little extra weight to it, and the setting could hardly be better for the Penguins AHL opener. The forward, who signed with the organization during the offseason, will skate in the teams 2026-27 home opener on Oct. 3 against the Springfield Thunderbirds, the club he just left behind, with opening-night festivities set to give the evening a bigger stage than the usual first whistle.
The Penguins will lean into the occasion with a pregame outdoor festival and rally towels for fans, then keep the weekend rolling a day later against Hartford as the home slate gets underway. For McGing, it is a familiar opponent in a new sweater, and for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton it is the kind of early-season matchup that can turn a routine opener into something a little more personal. [Read more 🡒]