04/05/26 05:49:00
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04/05 17:48 CDT Porter Martone's OT power-play goal lifts Flyers past Bruins
2-1, keeps playoff push alive
Porter Martone's OT power-play goal lifts Flyers past Bruins 2-1, keeps playoff
push alive
By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) --- Porter Martone capped a fantastic first week in the NHL
with a power-play goal in the NHL to put the Philadelphia Flyers even closer
toward ending a miserable playoff drought with a 2-1 overtime victory over the
Boston Bruins on Sunday.
The 19-year-old Martone --- who just wrapped his season at Michigan State ---
is just the boost the Flyers needed down the stretch to earn that coveted
playoff spot. His first career NHL goal in his fourth game put the Flyers into
third place in the Metropolitan Division with five games left for them this
season.
Flyers fans erupted when Martone capitalized on the man advantage --- courtesy
of David Pastrnak's hooking penalty --- with 2:29 left in OT.
The Flyers needed this win to get in Eastern Conference playoff position for
the first time since Jan. 12.
The Bruins tied the score 1-1 only 35 seconds into the third period when Pavel
Zacha knocked one past Dan Vladar on the power play for his 29th goal of the
season.
Christian Dvorak took a perfect touch pass from Martone, the Flyers' 2025
first-round draft pick, and finished a 2-on-1 with a wrister past Joonas
Korpisalo for the early 1-0 lead. Still buzzing from the early goal, Flyers
fans erupted only moments later when Travis Konecny and Boston's Charlie McAvoy
briefly scrapped near the net.
Officials had to separate the teams again and McAvoy was whistled for 2 minutes
for roughing as the horn sounded on the end of the first period.
The Flyers are playing meaningful hockey in the final week of the season for
one of the few times over the past 15 seasons. Chicago beat Philadelphia in
2010 for the Stanley Cup, and the Flyers never recovered, winning only three
playoff series since and they haven't made it all since 2020 in the bubble
format. The Flyers haven't played a home playoff series since 2018.
The Bruins are safe in a playoff spot down the stretch while the Flyers play
five pivotal games --- the next three on the road, the final two at home ---
that will decide their postseason fate.
Up next
Bruins: Play Tuesday at Carolina.
Flyers: Play Tuesday at New Jersey.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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