The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at PPG Paints Arena on April 18, 2026, with rookie forward Porter Martone scoring the game-winning goal with 2:37 remaining in the third period.
Travis Sanheim broke the tie midway through the third period, gliding through the slot to beat Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner after the teams entered the final frame deadlocked at 1-1. Jamie Drysdale added an earlier goal for Philadelphia, whereas Dan Vladar stopped 15 shots to earn his first career postseason win in his sixth NHL season.
Evgeni Malkin responded for Pittsburgh with his 68th career playoff goal, and Bryan Rust pulled the Penguins within one with a rebound goal with 1:01 left, but Vladar turned aside Anthony Mantha’s final attempt to preserve the Flyers’ lead.
The Flyers entered the game wearing T-shirts emblazoned with “3.8 percent” on the sleeves — a reference to their perceived postseason odds just months earlier — and used a late-season surge to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas has overseen a retooling that accelerated under first-year head coach Dan Muse, though Pittsburgh, the NHL’s third-highest scoring team during the regular season, struggled to maintain consistent offensive pressure against Philadelphia’s defensive structure.
Despite extensive roster turnover — only a few players remain from the 2018 playoff meeting between these rivals — the series opened with cautious curiosity rather than hostility, though tensions rose quickly when Rasmus Ristolainen was assessed a roughing penalty less than two minutes in for elbowing Elmer Soderblom.
Flyers forward Sean Couturier emphasized the team’s readiness, noting they had “been playing big games for the last month, month and a half” and felt prepared for the postseason’s intensity.
Martone, reflecting on his debut, credited veteran leadership: “I think the older guys have done a great job… showing us the ropes,” after becoming the youngest Flyers player ever to score in a playoff debut.
Coach Rick Tocchet downplayed the early celebration, stating, “We won one game. This is going to be a long series,” while acknowledging the young players’ excitement but noting their composure.
What adjustments might the Penguins need to make to counter the Flyers’ defensive approach in Game 2?
The Penguins, despite being the league’s third-highest scoring team during the regular season, failed to sustain pressure in Game 1 and may need to increase net-front presence and puck retrieval to generate second-chance opportunities against Vladar.
How significant is Porter Martone’s goal in the context of Flyers franchise history?
Martone became the youngest player in Flyers history to score in his postseason debut, marking a milestone for the team’s youth integration during their playoff return.