Penguins Look to Bounce Back in Philly with Youth, Grit, and a Familiar Rivalry
PHILADELPHIA - After getting steamrolled 7-2 by the Maple Leafs on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Penguins (12-7-5) are heading into Philadelphia with something to prove - and they’re bringing a mix of youthful energy and old-school grit to do it.
Tonight’s matchup against the Flyers (14-7-3) at Xfinity Mobile Arena isn’t just another game on the schedule. It’s Penguins vs.
Flyers - a rivalry that rarely disappoints and almost never lacks edge. And with puck drop set for just after 7 p.m., the Penguins are hoping a few new faces - and one very familiar one - can help them reset the tone.
A Rookie Injection - and a Little Muscle
The Penguins have called up rookie forward Rutger McGroarty from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and he’s not coming alone. Also joining the big club is Boko Imama, a physical presence who brings toughness and accountability - the kind of player who can shift the energy of a game with a single hit or scrap.
Head coach Dan Muse is leaning into the youth movement, rolling out a “Kids Line” that features Ben Kindel centering McGroarty and Ville Koivunen. It’s a bold move, but one that could inject some much-needed spark into a Penguins team that looked flat against Toronto.
“They’ve been earning it,” Muse said of the young trio. “They’ve been playing the right way down there - strong on the puck, responsible defensively, and creating offense.”
As for Imama, Muse made it clear that his role isn’t just about dropping the gloves - though he’s more than capable of that, too. “He’s been protecting pucks down low.
His defensive game has been really good, and he’s getting in on the forecheck. Obviously, there’s an element of physicality that he brings as well.”
Imama, who was the Penguins’ 2025 Masterton Trophy nominee, is known for his upbeat personality off the ice. On it, he brings edge - with two NHL fights last season and five more in the AHL. If things get chippy, as they often do between these two clubs, he’ll be ready.
Lineup Changes and Goalie Matchup
Tristan Jarry gets the start in goal for Pittsburgh, looking to rebound from a rough outing. Across the ice, Dan Vladar is expected to start for the Flyers.
In addition to the Kids Line, Muse is also retooling his fourth line, inserting Imama alongside Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte. On the blue line, Connor Clifton returns to action, bringing a physical edge to the third pairing with Ryan Graves.
Penguins Projected Lines
Forwards:
- Kevin Hayes - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
- Tommy Novak - Evgeni Malkin - Anthony Mantha
- Rutger McGroarty - Ben Kindel - Ville Koivunen
- Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Boko Imama
Defense:
- Parker Wotherspoon - Erik Karlsson
- Ryan Shea - Kris Letang
- Ryan Graves - Connor Clifton
Goalie: Tristan Jarry (confirmed)
Flyers Projected Lines
Forwards:
- Tyson Foerster - Noah Cates - Travis Konecny
- Owen Tippett - Christian Dvorak - Trevor Zegras
- Matvei Michkov - Sean Couturier - Bobby Brink
- Nikita Grebenkin - Rodrigo Abols - Garnet Hathaway
Defense:
- Cam York - Travis Sanheim
- Emil Andrae - Jamie Drysdale
- Nick Seeler - Noah Juulsen
Goalie: Dan Vladar (expected)
Special Teams Snapshot
The Penguins’ power play has been lethal, clicking at 30.4% - second-best in the league - while their penalty kill isn’t far behind at 84.8%, good for fifth. The Flyers’ special teams are more middle-of-the-pack: 17.5% on the power play (19th) and 85.1% on the penalty kill (4th).
Rivalry Stats That Matter
Let’s talk history - because when it comes to Penguins vs. Flyers, there’s plenty of it.
The Penguins have points in 10 of their last 12 games against Philly (7-2-3), and a big reason for that is the dominance of their stars.
Evgeni Malkin has been a thorn in the Flyers’ side for years, racking up 95 points (32 goals, 63 assists) in 78 career games against them. That’s impressive - until you look at Sidney Crosby’s numbers.
Crosby has absolutely owned the Flyers for 21 seasons. In 91 career games, he’s posted 135 points (57 goals, 78 assists) - the most by any player in NHL history against Philadelphia. He’s also riding a heater against them, with 33 points in his last 22 matchups.
And don’t overlook Parker Wotherspoon. The defenseman is quietly having a breakout year, averaging a career-best 21:07 of ice time per game and already setting new personal highs in goals (2) and points (9) through just 24 games.
Final Thought
If the Penguins are going to shake off Saturday’s blowout loss, tonight’s rivalry game is as good a place as any to start. With a retooled lineup, a mix of fresh legs and old-school toughness, and their stars historically thriving in this matchup, Pittsburgh has the pieces to make a statement.
Now it’s just about putting it all together - in the most hostile building on the schedule.