Preview, key stats to know for ABC Saturday: Penguins-Rangers, Bruins-Flyers

Now that the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey match is entire, those world superstars have returned to their NHL groups in time for the Stanley Cup playoff races to heat up.

On Saturday, many of those hockey heroes can be on the ice for a rare doubleheader on ABC and in the ESPN app.

In the significant matchup, the Pittsburgh Penguins — including Sweden’s Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell, nonetheless without the injured Sidney Crosby — face off against the Unique York Rangers, including USA forwards Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller, along with USA coach Mike Sullivan (and Swedish teammate Mika Zibanejad).

In the 2nd game, the Boston Bruins — including the USA’s Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman, along with Czechia’s David Pastrnak among others — rob on the Philadelphia Flyers, who will have Rasmus Ristolainen (Finland), Dan Vladar (Czechia) and Travis Sanheim (Canada).

To back salvage you ready for these two games, right here’s a files on the principal avid gamers to seem forward to every crew, including in-depth statistical insights from ESPN Evaluate, along with broadcast files.

Pittsburgh
Penguins at

Unique York
Rangers

Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET
Madison Sq. Garden

Penguins

Anecdote: 30-15-12, 72 parts
Vitality Ranking: 7
Leading scorer: Sidney Crosby (27 targets, 32 assists)

Notes from ESPN Evaluate

• In the origin of the average season, DraftKings Sportsbook equipped +600 odds on the Penguins to perform the playoffs (14% implied likelihood). Entering Friday, those odds were -310 (75% implied likelihood).

• Crosby has played in 369 of the Penguins’ previous 378 games after origin the 2021-22 season convalescing from wrist surgical treatment in September 2021. Handiest 29 avid gamers in the NHL played in additional games than Crosby between his 2021-22 debut on Oct. 30, 2021, and Friday (he was as soon as 34 to 38 years worn in that stretch). His 369 games played in that span are 24 bigger than another Penguins player (Kris Letang is 2nd with 345).

• Evgeni Malkin has 46 parts, which is 2nd on the crew late Crosby’s 59. Malkin’s present 1.10 parts-per-game glide would be his easiest since 2019-20 (1.35).

• Goaltender Stuart Skinner is 8-1-1 with a 2.30 targets-against average and .904 build share in his previous 10 starts. Backup Arturs Silovs is 8-2-2, with a 2.39 GAA and .910 build share in his previous 12 starts.

Rangers

Anecdote: 22-29-7, 51 parts
Vitality Ranking: 30
Leading scorer: Mika Zibanejad (23 targets, 29 assists)

Notes from ESPN Evaluate

• The Rangers have struggled at MSG in 2025-26. They enter Saturday’s game 6-15-5 at home this season, the 2nd-worst parts share (.327) in the NHL sooner than handiest the Vancouver Canucks (.304, 6-17-5). The Rangers’ fewest home wins in a season of 80-plus games is 13 in 2003-04.

• With the return of Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox, the Rangers’ roster is the eighth youngest in the NHL (27.85 years worn). On the opposite hand, the present high three scorers this season are 32 years worn: Zibanejad (52 parts), Vincent Trocheck (37) and J.T. Miller (36). Artemi Panarin, traded genuine sooner than the Olympic spoil, had essentially the most parts this season for the Rangers (57) at age 34.

• Will Cuylle now has three seasons with 200 or more hits, tied with Dan Girardi for 2nd most such seasons among Rangers avid gamers since first tracked in 2005-06, and trailing handiest Ryan Callahan’s four such campaigns.

• The No. 1 pick in 2020, Alexis Lafreniere, has a 0.52 career parts-per-game charge that is fourth lowest among No. 1 overall picks with 400 NHL games played, late Garry Monahan (1963, 0.38), Patrik Stefan (1999, 0.41) and Doug Wickenheiser (1980, 0.50).

Boston
Bruins at

Philadelphia
Flyers

Saturday, 3 p.m. ET
Xfinity Mobile Arena

Bruins

Anecdote: 33-20-5, 71 parts
Vitality Ranking: 11
Leading scorer: David Pastrnak (22 targets, 50 assists)

Notes from ESPN Evaluate

• The Bruins missed the playoffs final season, and haven’t missed in consecutive seasons since 2014-15 and 2015-16. The B’s have a .794 parts share in 2026 (12-2-3), which is 2nd simplest in the NHL late the Tampa Bay Lightning (.861, 15-2-1).

• Pastrnak leads the crew with 72 parts. Here is his fourth career 50-back season, tying Johnny Bucyk and Adam Oates for the fourth most such seasons in Bruins ancient previous.

• Morgan Geekie‘s 33 targets this season are tied with Cole Caufield for fourth in the NHL, late Nathan MacKinnon (40), Connor McDavid (35) and Matt Boldy (34).

• Charlie McAvoy’s 340 career parts are third among Bruins defensemen in their first 9 NHL seasons, late Bobby Orr (870) and Ray Bourque (695).

Flyers

Anecdote: 26-21-11, 63 parts
Vitality Ranking: 23
Leading scorer: Travis Konecny (22 targets, 33 assists)

Notes from ESPN Evaluate

• The Flyers have missed the playoffs for 5 straight seasons, nonetheless they’ve the fifth-youngest roster in the NHL in 2025-26, including 9 avid gamers beneath the age of 30 with 20 or more parts this season.

• Trevor Zegras‘ 50 parts are the 2nd most by a player skating on a brand unique crew this season, late Mitch Marner (58 with the Vegas Golden Knights).

• Per NHL Edge, Owen Tippett has 38 flee bursts of 22 mph-plus this season, 2nd in the NHL late Connor McDavid — who has 110 such bursts.

• Travis Sanheim, Gash Seeler and Cam York every have 100 or more blocked shots this season. The Flyers are indubitably one of 4 groups who have three avid gamers with 100 or more blocked shots, along with the Detroit Purple Wings, Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars.