FILE - Pittsburgh Penguins' Avery Hayes (85) and Philadelphia Flyers' Jamie Drysdale (9) fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

As playoff races were raging down the stretch, Commissioner Gary Bettman pointed out that the NHL in years past has had first-round matchups decided on the final day of the season.

Needing until the final day is true once again, with three matchups yet to be determined before the playoffs begin this weekend. Here’s a look at a matchup involving a no-love-lost rivalry between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

East: Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia

Pittsburgh (41-25-16, 98 points): The longshot Penguins are giving the trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang another chance after three years without a postseason berth.

Strengths: Erik Karlsson has been great at 35, and rookie coach Dan Muse plays a style that allows his team to score in bunches and turn the tide on opponents quickly.

Weaknesses: Defending isn’t the Pens’ strong suit, and neither is their goaltending, so they often need to outscore their problems.

Philadelphia (43-27-12, 98 points): The Flyers have been the NHL’s best team since back on March 7, going 15-5-1 to make it in for the first time since 2020.

Strengths: They can lean on experienced elders like Sean Couturier but are in the playoffs because of young, emerging stars Tyson Foerster, Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov.

Weaknesses: Goalie Dan Vladar played a ton down the stretch because he needed to, and he and his many of his teammates are largely new to this kind of pressure.

AP’s prediction: Pittsburgh (-160) has too many players who have been there, done that and could make a longer-than-expected run. Penguins in five.

Finale dropped

ST. LOUIS — Jimmy Snuggerud scored twice and assisted on both of Dylan Holloway’s goals in the third period as the St. Louis Blues rallied from a three-goal deficit to beat the Penguins 7-5 late Tuesday night.

Pittsburgh raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first period despite resting most of its regular players, including Crosby and Malkin, with the playoffs looming this weekend. The Blues surged ahead with five consecutive goals in a span of just over 20 minutes, with Holloway and Pavel Buchnevich scoring 44 seconds apart in the third period.

The Penguins scored on three of their first six shots. In addition to Crosby and Malkin, Karlsson, Letang, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, Samuel Girard, Blake Lizotte, Connor Dewar and Parker Wotherspoon were scratched with Pittsburgh already locked into its playoff position.

Playoffs

Who: Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia

Season series: 2-2

This year’s records: Pens (41-25-16); Flyers (43-27-12)

Radio: HANK-FM 96.1

Best-of-7 series: Starting date TBA