Analysis of a Rivalry: Philadelphia Flyers Vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

It should come as no surprise that any debate about the better team in a rivalry gets heated, even downright vicious at times. Everybody has a different opinion, and everybody wants it to be heard. The rivalry between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins has become one of the better known NHL rivalries as of late, and it seems to escalate every year. Each game, each playoff series, and every blogger adding his/her two cents just adds fuel to the fire. The actual dawn of the Keystone State rivalry is mere speculation, but it can be traced back to 1967 when both teams were introduced into the NHL's expansion. Both teams obviously share the same state and conference, and both teams have shared the same division at different times throughout the development of the NHL. They currently share the Atlantic Division.   In the 1988-89 season the Flyers met the Penguins in the playoffs for the first time. Since then, they have met four more times in the playoffs, most recen...