Game 1 Tonight 7:30
NATIVE SONS
Pittsburgh knows how to grow hockey players. Flyers center R.J. Umberger grew up in Plum Borough, Pa., 13 miles east of Pittsburgh, and was a Penguins fan as a youngster. He signed as a free agent with the Flyers in 2004.
The Penguins Ryan Malone grew up in the wealthy suburb of Upper St. Clair, 10 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, where he also attended high school. His father, Greg Malone, a center, won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins, in 1990-91 and 1991-92.
THE GOALIES
The Flyers Marty Biron has faced more than 100 more shots (395) than Pittsburghs Marc-Andre Fleury (256). Fleury has an out-of-this-world 1.76 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage.
THE VETERANS
Darryl Sydor (151 games) and Gary Roberts (123) have the most playoff experience on the Penguins. Hatcher (128) is the only Flyer with 95 or more playoff games.
THE ARENAS
Pittsburghs Mellon Arena is called the Igloo by locals. Built in 1957 and opened in 1961, its the oldest NHL arena. The roof opens, and in the late 1970s opened for a concert and shorted out, knocking out power all over downtown Pittsburgh.
The Wachovia Center opened in 1996 and hosted the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and the 2000 Republican Convention.
QUOTABLE
Penguins general manager Ray Shero, below, is the son of the late Flyers coach Fred Shero. He grew up a Flyers fan.
"When I think of Philadelphia, theyre a highly skilled club. They do play in-your-face hockey, but the mentality in Philadelphia of the Flyers fans and their game presentation [on the Jumbotron scoreboard], theyre still living the glory days of the Broad Street Bullies. They love it. Thats the last two championships they had. . . . They love their rough-and-tumble hockey, just like they did a long time ago."
TWO CUPS
Both teams sponsor high school tournaments - the Penguins Cup and the Flyers Cup. Both teams have won the Stanley Cup twice.
WHEN LAST THEY MET
Flyers coach John Stevens, right, coached the Phantoms against Pens coach Michel Therriens Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2005 when the Phantoms won the Calder Cup to become the American Hockey League champion. The coaches argued over the glass, but they claim neither has a grudge.
SPECIAL TEAMS
