The set-up:The two-time defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins are 42-27-6, giving them 90 points. They currently sit five points behind the first-place Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division but own just a one point lead on Columbus and a two-point edge over the fourth-place Philadelphia Flyers. Those 38-25-12 Flyers will be in Pittsburgh for an early afternoon game today, looking to avoid a four-game sweep of the season series, as the Pens have outscored the Flyers 15-7 in winning the first three meetings this season. Pittsburgh has been dominant on its home ice of late, winning 15 of its last 17 (15-1-1) at PPG Paints Arena, with both losses coming at the hands of the New Jersey Devils. Meanwhile, after opening March with seven losses in eight games (1-6-1), the Flyers have regained their equilibrium by earning points in four in a row (3-0-1) to stay on the heels of Pittsburgh and Columbus in the tightly bunched Metropolitan. However, Philadelphia is holding down the top wild card in the Eastern Conference with 88 points, although New Jersey (86 points) and Florida (83) remain within striking distance.

Philadelphia:Travis Konecny (22 goals and 22 assists on the season) has scored 18 of his 22 goals since Jan. 4, including a pair in Thursday's 4-3 win over the New York Rangers. Captain Claude Giroux has collected three assists iin back-to-back games and is now tied for the league lead with 64 (also owns a team-high 26 goals). This is a huge game but rookie goalie Alex Lyon is expected to make his second straight start and eighth of his career on Sunday. He's 4-2-1 in 10 games, with a 2.49 GAA and .914 SP.

Pittsburgh: If the Pittsburgh Penguins are unable to catch first-place Washington in the Metropolitan Division, they can look no further than New Jersey, which won 4-3 in Pittsburgh on Friday. Head coach Mike Sullivan tinkered with his lineup in the third period of Friday's game, swapping right wings on the top two lines and going with the same alignment at Saturday's practice. Patric Hornqvist was elevated to the No. 1 unit alongside Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel while Bryan Rust skated with Evgeni Malkin and Carl Hagelin on the second line. Phil Kessel reached 30 goals for the sixth time in his career in Friday's loss and is second on the tem with 83 points..Malkin leads the team wiyth 41 goals and 91 points, whilke Crosby's 56 assists are a team-high (81 points).

The pick: These teams have not played such a meaningful game this late in the season in several years.Pittsburgh's dominated Phjily so far this season (see above) but the only time Pittsburgh has swept its cross-state rival in a season series was 2006-07, when teams played a lot more intra-division games and the Penguins went 8-0 against the Flyers. The Flyers are one of the league's better road clubs (19-12-6) but they are a modest re 4-4 overall since the teams' most recent game, a 5-2 Penguins win back on March 7. However, Pittsburgh domination at PPG Paints Arena (15-1-1) its last 17 is tough to ignore. Especially, when the only team to break through in this venue during that span (Devils), is not today's opponent. Make the Pens an 8* play.