PITTSBURGH – Everyone in NHL circles knows about the rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. Both teams were introduced to the league in 1967 and have been one of the most heated rivalries for almost 60 years.
The fire between the two teams has tapered off a bit over the last few seasons, but something about the most recent meeting between the cross-state rivals has re-lit the fuse for the Penguins and Flyers.
It wasn’t a blood bath all game and small scrums are bound to happen between two competitive hockey teams, but the third period featured in Philadelphia saw tension boil over. For the first time in a few years it felt like there was some real hatred between the teams.
Kris Letang was cut in the forehead by a high stick at the beginning of what turned into a few minutes of pushing, pulling, and definitely more than a few punches. A bloodied Letang remained involved with the crowd as Evgeni Malkin looked to continue stirring the pot.
Malkin isn’t afraid of getting into it with his opponents and can often fly off the rails at times. He had to be held back and was later assessed a roughing penalty.
The game didn’t see an over-the-top amount of penalty minutes, especially as far as this rivalry is concerned, but the Flyers did lay the body for 26 total hits against the Penguins.
This was the kind of game where Penguins’ defenseman John Ludvig and his physicality was missed.
The feud between the Penguins and Flyers may have been reignited by that third period, after a few years of bland hockey. Not that the games were bad or lopsided, but the Flyers haven’t been a great team in recent seasons while the Penguins have traditionally been a playoff team with Stanley Cup ambitions.
This time around, the Flyers are in a better standings position than the Penguins and are shocking the league with their start to the season. With it being them against the world, the Flyers got back to their roots against the Penguins and found what is hopefully a new chapter to one of the best rivalries in hockey.
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