As our Penguins prepare to square off with the Philadelphia Flyers tonight in the latest installment of “The Battle of Pennsylvania,” it occurred to me that many younger fans may not understand or fully appreciate the deeply rooted hatred between the two clubs. Especially considering that it’s a kinder, gentler Flyers team we face these days.
I thought I’d provide a little primer.
Many fans would be surprised to learn that Philly’s infamous orange-and-black color scheme actually has Steel City origins. Way back in the 1920s, Pittsburgh had an NHL team named the Pirates, which was descended from a local amateur club named the Yellow Jackets.