Instant reactions: Porter Martone’s first Flyers goal is OT winner

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The Philadelphia Flyers got all the help they could ask for on Saturday, with all of the Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets losing in regulation, meaning if the Orange & Black come away from this matchup with a single point, they’ll be the third seed in the Metropolitan Division. Two points in a win gives Philly a lead on that playoff spot by both points and points-percentage, and puts them two up on their wild card competition, as well (at least pending other action today).

The luck continued early Sunday, with the Minnesota Wild fighting off a third period comeback by the Detroit Red Wings to beat them in regulation, as well, setting the stage for a very productive afternoon faceoff with Boston, if the Flyers can just squeeze a win out of this game.

Philly got off to a great start, controlling much of the first period, limiting Boston’s chances, and taking a 1-0 lead into intermission thanks to a great Porter Martone breakout pass springing Christian Dvorak on a 2-on-1 with Travis Konecny.

First period

Highlight: What a pass by Porter Martone to send Christian Dvorak on a 2-on-1 with Travis Konecny! Dvorak skated the puck through the neutral zone and elected to take the shot, giving Philly a 1-0 lead! Rasmus Ristolainen picked up a puck out of traffic behind the Flyers net and fed it to Martone along the wall, and Martone deftly made a one-touch redirect breakout pass, leading Dvorak in-stride to start the rush, and Dvo let it rip from the top of the RW circle for his 17th of the year. Hell of a start for the Flyers, who end the period applying pressure in Boston’s zone, outshooting the Bruins 6-3 in the frame.

Although he only faced three shots in the period, Dan Vladar was also a highlight, making a big pokecheck to deny David Pastrnak a chance alone in front after a Trevor Zegras turnover at the top of the zone looked like serious trouble. Vladar was also aggressive moving the puck ahead, electing to send a few long passes into the neutral zone for his forwards rather than letting his defensemen handle the breakout a couple of times. Love the urgency from the #1 netminder.

What I want to see next period: Let’s take advantage of Boston on the back-to-back. Charlie McAvoy is going to begin the second in the box after punching Sean Couturier in a scrum after the buzzer. A power play goal would go a long way to getting the Flyers back into a playoff spot, and Boston is not in a must-win situation. They’re six points up on the jumble of 88-point wild card contenders, and six points behind the second and third seeds in the Atlantic. You might be able to demoralize them early and get them looking forward to their day off on Monday, and showdown with Carolina on Tuesday. LET’S DO THIS, BOYS!

Second period

Highlight: This was Dan Vladar’s period, stopping all 11 of Boston’s bids to tie the game, after needing to make only three saves in the first, giving him 14 saves for the game, including five on David Pastrnak (3 SOG) and Morgan Geekie (2 SOG) through 40 minutes.

What I want to see next period: Boston will have 1:25 of power play time to start the third, but it did feel like they were beginning to wear down late in the second after an early push, as Philly put eight shots on goal vs. the Bruins’ three in the second half of the stanza.

The Flyers need to kill the final 85 seconds of this Carl Grundstrom minor, and then play very smart hockey. They’ve had three power plays to Boston’s one, and if that number is evened up, I don’t like the chances of winning this game in regulation. Play physical, look to add a goal or two when the opportunities are there, but I want to see some classic Rick Tocchet Hockey in the final 20 minutes, and lock this down for Vladar and the playoff spot.

Third period

Highlight: Well, they did not kill the penalty. Vladar will have to wait another day for his first shutout in Orange & Black, as he stopped an initial one-time bid, but left a rebound right on the doorstep and dove for it (and appeared to be interfered with) but wasn’t able to jump on it before Pavel Zacha tied the game. DAMMIT!

The Flyers had several chances in the latter part of the third, including a juicy rebound opportunity for Tyson Foerster, but Joonas Korpisalo stoned him with a desperation kick save, and we’re headed to OT for a franchise record 27th time this season! The single point in the standings gets the Flyers into a playoff spot by way of having 89 points, same as the Islanders, with one fewer game played.

Overtime

The Flyers lost the opening faceoff but a turnover gives Foerster a chance to go the other way and set Travis Sanheim up with a touch play on the back door, but Sanheim couldn’t make contact with the puck and wiped out! Owen Tippett got a chance on a steal in the middle of the zone seconds later, but Korpisalo gloved his attempt. MY HEART IS RACING!

Morgan Geekie got a chance all alone in the slot, but Jamie Drysdale was able to get stick on puck at the release point to deflect the puck into the netting for a stoppage. PHEW!

Dvorak got a breakaway off a turnover high in the Flyers’ d-zone, and was hooked by Pastrnak, but still pulled away with a chance, but he didn’t convert and now the Flyers get a 4v3 power play after going 0/3 on man advantages in regulation. HERE WE GO!

ANOTHER PENALTY ON BOSTON! McAvoy goes for high-sticking right off the draw! Five-on-three! They have to score! AND MARTONE DOES IT! FIRST CAREER GOAL FOR THE WIN! OH HELL YEAH!

Final note: For the first time since January 12th, the Philadelphia Flyers are in a playoff spot! Let’s close this thing out! POSTSEASON HOCKEY IN PHILLY, BABY!

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