Pittsburgh Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL or NHLPA
HOCKEYUNPLUGGED  |  NHL  |  NEWS

Penguins veteran admits Flyers rivalry is not what it used to be


PUBLICATION
Daniel Lucente
January 15, 2026  (9:27)
SHARE THIS STORY

Philadelphia Flyers right wing Garnet Hathaway (19) hits Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) in the third period at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Photo credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Penguins veteran Kris Letang has made an honest revelation, where he admitted that the once fierce rivalry with the Flyers is not what it used to be.

The Penguins' rivalry with the Philadelphia Flyers has spanned decades, but Kris Letang believes it no longer carries the same intensity it once did.
Letang was first introduced to the rivalry on Oct. 5, 2006, when he made his NHL debut against Philadelphia.

What Kris Letang had to say about the Penguins-Flyers rivalry

Nearly two decades later, the veteran defenseman sees a matchup that feels different, even as the history between the two franchises remains extensive.
"It's not what it was, that's for sure."

- Kris Letang
Pittsburgh continues a three-game homestand with a meeting against the Flyers at PPG Paints Arena, where recent results have heavily favored the Penguins.
Pittsburgh has earned points in 11 of its last 13 games against Philadelphia and owns a 14-5-4 record over the last 23 meetings.

Why the Penguins love playing the Flyers at home

The Penguins have also recorded points in 10 straight home games against the Flyers, going 8-0-2 since March 6, 2021.
Bryan Rust has been consistently productive against Philadelphia, totaling 29 points in 36 career games, including 14 points over his last 10.
Sidney Crosby has produced some of the best numbers of his career in the rivalry, posting 59 goals and 137 points in 92 games, both NHL records versus the Flyers. Crosby has points in 20 of his last 23 games against Philadelphia.
Since entering the league in 2006-07, no defenseman has more points against the Flyers than Kris Letang, who has 55, along with a plus-32 rating.
The Penguins, coached by Dan Muse, enter the matchup ranked third in the NHL in power-play percentage at 27.9 percent. The game gets underway tonight at 7 PM ET.
POLL
JANVIER 15   |   79 ANSWERS
Penguins veteran admits Flyers rivalry is not what it used to be

Has the rivalry between the Penguins and Flyers lost its edge?

Yes3139.2 %
No4860.8 %
List of polls

HOCKEYUNPLUGGED
COPYRIGHT @2026 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
TERMS OF SERVICE - PRIVACY POLICY - COOKIE POLICY
RSS FEED - SITEMAP - ROBOTS.TXT