Porter Martone picked a loud way to introduce himself to the NHL. The 19-year-old rookie scored his first career goal at 2:31 of overtime, lifting the Philadelphia Flyers to a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Sunday and nudging Philly back into a playoff spot at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Martone cashed in on a 5-on-3 power play, burying his own rebound just over halfway through the extra session. According to NHL.com, the play started with Trevor Zegras setting up Christian Dvorak, and ended with Martone sticking with the puck long enough to slide a second-chance bid around Joonas Korpisalo.
How the play developed
Martone was not just the overtime hero; he had his fingerprints on the offense all afternoon. Early in the first period, he helped jump-start the scoring when he redirected a breakout that turned into a 2-on-1 and Christian Dvorak’s goal at 4:19. The Flyers’ official recap notes that Martone both assisted on that opening marker and finished the night with the overtime winner, and that the victory pushed Philadelphia to 90 points and into third place in the Metropolitan Division. Philadelphia Flyers
Locker-room reaction
Inside the room, the reviews on the teenager were as strong as his finish. Teammates and coaches praised Martone’s hockey sense and poise in a high-stakes spot. Christian Dvorak called him “a very smart player” and “a massive difference maker” for the night, while coach Rick Tocchet pointed to the group’s growth as the club leans into a late-season playoff push. Those comments, along with the game details, were captured in the official game recap. NHL.com
Why it matters
The win put the Flyers into a playoff spot for the first time since Jan. 12 and moved them to 90 points, vaulting them past the New York Islanders in the Metropolitan Division. The team has charged into the race with a 10-3-1 stretch over its last 14 games, turning the final five dates on the regular-season calendar into something close to must-win territory. NBC Sports Philadelphia
Martone’s rapid rise
Martone’s emergence has been fast. He signed a three-year entry-level contract on March 29 and stepped straight into the spotlight, collecting three points in his first four NHL games. Local coverage of his signing and quick promotion has underscored how the 2025 first-round pick was fast-tracked into the middle of Philadelphia’s late-season surge. CBS Philadelphia
What’s next
Now the Flyers head into a five-game sprint with a game in hand and almost no wiggle room as the regular season winds down. Their next test comes Tuesday on the road in New Jersey, another chance to bank points before the postseason scramble really tightens. ESPN
