After a slate of favorable results around the Eastern Conference last night, the Philadelphia Flyers (39-26-12) entered Sunday’s matchup with the Boston Bruins (43-26-9) with a clear opportunity: grab at least one point and climb back into a playoff spot for the first time since early January.
Behind an early goal from Christian Dvorak, stellar goaltending from Dan Vladař, and a clutch overtime moment from Porter Martone, the Flyers secured a 2-1 overtime win, earning a crucial two points in the tight playoff race.
1st Period
It did not take long for the Flyers to get on the board, with Dvorak finishing a breakaway at 4:19 to open the scoring.
The play started with Rasmus Ristolainen retrieving the puck behind Vladař and moving it up to Martone along the boards. From there, Martone delivered a beautiful, between-the-legs, backward pass that sprung Dvorak on a 2-on-1 with Travis Konecny. Dvorak kept it himself and beat Joonas Korpisalo cleanly to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead.
The Flyers limited Boston to just three shots on goal in the period and did not allow a single shot over the final five minutes. Structured, composed, and aggressive, it was a strong opening 20.
2nd Period
The period opened with some carryover tension, as Charlie McAvoy was sent to the box for roughing after getting into it with Sean Couturier at the end of the first. That power play, however, set the tone for a frustrating stretch.
Despite three power play opportunities in the period, including two penalties taken by Morgan Geekie, the Flyers could not capitalize. A post from Matvei Michkov was as close as they came, but overall, the man advantage lacked structure and rhythm.
The period also featured some post-whistle chaos, with Michkov and David Pastrňák both heading to the box for extracurriculars after a scrum.
Late in the period, Carl Grundström took an avoidable interference penalty, giving Boston their first power play of the night, one that would carry over into the third.
While the Flyers struggled to convert offensively, Vladař was busy and composed, stopping all 11 shots he faced in the period.
3rd Period
The Bruins needed just 35 seconds to capitalize on their carryover power play. Pavel Zacha tied the game at 1-1. After an initial shot from Pastrňák, Vladař made the save but could not recover in time. The puck found Casey Mittelstadt, who quickly fed Zacha for the finish into a wide-open net.
Despite the early goal, the Flyers did not fold. They pushed hard throughout the period, peppering Korpisalo with sustained pressure, including a flurry of five shots in just over a minute midway through the frame. Still, the go-ahead goal proved elusive.
Frustration crept in, particularly after Owen Tippett was taken down by Hampus Lindholm without a call, but the Flyers pressed on.
Boston managed just five shots in the entire period, including a long stretch of nearly nine minutes without registering one, another testament to the Flyers’ defensive effort.
Overtime
Overtime opened with opportunity. Boston turned the puck over twice in quick succession, leading to early chances for Tippett and Cam York, both denied by Korpisalo.
Then, the game turned.
Pastrňák was called for hooking 2:09 into overtime and, moments later, McAvoy took a high-sticking penalty against Trevor Zegras, giving the Flyers a 5-on-3 advantage.
At 2:31, in a moment that felt straight out of a dream, Martone scored his first NHL goal, and he made it count. Off another clean faceoff win from Dvorak, who dominated the dot all night at 72%, the Flyers moved the puck around before finding Martone in front. His initial chance was stopped, but he stayed with it, found his own rebound, and buried it.
Martone finished with five shots on goal, bringing his total to 20 through his first four NHL games, a clear sign of just how hungry he has been since arriving.
A Few Final Notes
Beyond the game-winner, there were plenty of standout efforts across the lineup. Tippett led the team with six hits, while Noah Cates added four shots on goal, and Nick Seeler contributed three hits and three blocks.
Dvorak earned the second star of the night and continues his career-best season, now at 49 points (17G, 32A) and just two away from 300 for his career. One more goal will match his season-best of 18 from the 2019-20 season.
In net, Vladař was outstanding once again, stopping 18 of 19 shots for a .947 SV% and earning the third star of the game. His impact goes beyond the crease, too, as he hyped up the home crowd during the postgame celebrations and shared that the team “owed” the fans this win.
The Standings
With the win, the Flyers move to 90 points in 77 games, sitting third in the Metropolitan Division.
The Ottawa Senators also reached 90 points in 77 games tonight, holding the second Wild Card spot, while the New York Islanders sit just behind at 89 points in 78 games and are on a bit of a break, not playing again until April 9.
Elsewhere, the Minnesota Wild helped out tonight by defeating the Detroit Red Wings in regulation, leaving Detroit at 88 points, tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets and both having played 77 games. The Washington Capitals also suffered a big loss tonight, sitting at 87 points in 78 games.
The Flyers are getting some help, but at the end of the day, their fate is in their own hands. It is about focus, hard work, and discipline. And, if we are being honest, maybe a few more power play goals, but no need to get greedy.
Up Next
The Philadelphia Flyers hit the road next, heading to New Jersey for a matchup with the New Jersey Devils (39-34-3) on Tuesday, April 7, with puck drop set for 7pm/ET.
As for the rest of the league, the four games on Monday night’s schedule will not impact the Flyers in the standings. Three of those matchups feature Western Conference teams, while the other includes the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres, both of whom have already locked up playoff spots in the Atlantic Division. It gives the Flyers a brief moment to hold their ground before jumping right back into meaningful hockey on Tuesday night.
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