The Philadelphia Flyers are on a roll, jumping out to a commanding 3-0 lead in their first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the middle of that dominant run, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro revealed a fun wager he made against Sidney Crosby’s Penguins.
Penguins Target of Pennsylvania Governor’s Bet
Coming into the series, the Penguins looked like the safer bet. They finished second in the Metropolitan Division with 98 points (41-25-16), powered by stars like Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The Flyers, also at 98 points (43-27-12), but slotted third, were widely seen as underdogs.
Three games later, that narrative is gone.
Philadelphia has controlled the series from the start, taking Game 1 (3-1), Game 2 (3-0), and Game 3 (5-2). It’s not just the wins, it’s how they’ve come. Fast, physical, and relentless, the Flyers have looked like the far more confident team.
As the Flyers caught fire, Shapiro didn’t hold back his excitement. Speaking on the WIP Morning Show, the governor praised the team’s energy, calling their play “lights out” and highlighting how quickly some young players have stepped up. Shapiro also gave a shout-out to Porter Martone, who has sizzled on his playoffs debut.
But he also revealed something more entertaining; a personal bet tied to the series.
Shapiro shared that during an appearance on Pat McAfee’s show last week, the two struck a deal. “Pat bet me that the Penguins were going to win. And I said, I’ll take the Flyers. And our bet was, if the Penguins win, I’ve got to wear one of Pat McAfee’s tank tops to work all day. And if the Flyers win, he’s got to wear a suit to work,” Shapiro said.
With the Flyers now one win away from a sweep, Shapiro is feeling confident. “Let me tell you something, man, I don’t think I’m going suns out, guns out for this. I’m feeling really good, really good about Pat having to wear that suit,” he added.
For Pittsburgh, the situation is dire.
A 3-0 deficit in a playoff series is historically difficult to overcome, requiring four straight wins to survive. While teams led by players like Crosby are never easy to count out, the Penguins have yet to find answers for Philadelphia’s pace and pressure.
Meanwhile, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet is keeping his team grounded, saying, “We’ve got a long way to go. The hardest one is to win the next one.”
Now, the series shifts to a pivotal Game 4 in Philadelphia.
For the Flyers, it’s a chance to complete a statement sweep and move on to Round 2. For the Penguins, it’s do-or-die. Somewhere in the background, a suit, and a tank top, are quietly waiting to see who wins the bet.
