Penguins Victorious In Game 4 In Last-Miunute Save Of Series

After losing three straight games to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins won Game 4 on April 25 to force the series to at least 5 games and stage a possible comeback. The win snapped the momentum Philadelphia had built and gave Pittsburgh a foothold in a series that was slipping away.

Flyers Win Games 1-3

The Flyers got off to a strong start in the series. In Game 1 on April 18, the teams were tied after a comeback from the Penguins after being down 3-1 halfway through the game, but the Flyers’ Travis Sanheim broke the tie in the 3rd period, and Philadelphia won 4-3.

In Game 2 on April 20, the Flyers shut the Penguins out 3-0, with goalie Dan Vladar making 27 saves for his first career shutout in the playoffs, and his first of the season. Rookie Porter Martone scored in Games 1 and 2 for the Flyers, a promising start for him.

Game 3 brought 3 goals for the Flyers in 6 minutes and a 5-2 win, a hard blow for the Penguins and a victory for their opponents, who are hoping to make it past the first round in the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Penguins Win Game 4 To Stay Alive

Pittsburgh switched out goalie Stuart Skinner for Arturs Silvos, who hadn’t played in a playoff game since 2024. He faced 30 shots on goal and saved 28 times. Highly respected veteran Sidney Crosby got Pittsburgh up early with the opening goal, and Richard Rakell scored early in the second period to put the away team up 2-0.

Flyers rookie Denver Barkey scored his first career playoff goal to put his team on the board, and Travis Konecny also scored. However, the Penguins had Kris Letang and Connor Dewar (in his first playoff goal) score for an eventual 4-2 win that kept them away from elimination by their Metropolitan Division opponent.

Crosby had a multipoint game, the 68th of his career, and he sits 3rd in NHL history. He also now has 204 playoff points with one franchise, ranking him 3rd in league history as well. He continues to deliver in the biggest moments, driving play with the same edge he’s had since his rookie year.

Game 4 Reactions

Head coach Rich Tocchet wasn’t happy with how his Flyers played on April 25. He felt the group never settled into its structure early and spent too much time chasing the game instead of controlling it.

“I thought we didn’t hold onto pucks, we were throwing pucks away too much,” he said. “The second half, we started coming to our game. I don’t think it’s a ton of adjustments. More of, I think we got to dig a little bit more. I didn’t see much digging early from some guys, and we got to make sure that right from the beginning, we got to dig off the bat.”

Vladar Keeps the Flyers Grounded and Confident After the Loss

Philadelphia goalie Dan Vladar stayed upbeat after the game, keeping the room steady despite the loss. He pointed to the bigger picture and the position the Flyers still hold in the series. He made it clear the group isn’t rattled, stressing that their confidence and approach haven’t wavered despite the setback.

“If somebody told you guys before the series we were going to be up 3–1 after four games, you guys wouldn’t believe us,” he said. “So we are good. Nothing’s changing for us. Still being positive in here. … They are a really good team. It’s not easy to win four in a row against a team like that. We’re fine here,” Vladar said.

Silovs was energized by the moment, thrilled to earn a win in his first playoff start since 2024. He’d waited all season for another chance on the postseason stage, and the performance showed how much he embraced the opportunity.

Letang also praised Crosby’s impact, pointing out the small, subtle plays that rarely make the highlight reel but change the flow of a game. He emphasized how Crosby’s awareness and timing created the space needed for his shot, a reminder of the veteran’s elite hockey IQ and ability to read every situation on the ice.

Ahead of Game 5

The Penguins will be at home for Game 5, and still face elimination, so they will need to be at the top of their game to beat the Flyers and stage a full comeback. They know there’s no margin left, and every mistake from here on out could end their season. They’ll need a surge of urgency from the opening shift if they want to keep the series alive.