The Philadelphia Flyers dropped their first game of last week’s slate, but they rebounded emphatically with three straight wins. In this week-ahead piece, we look at how they’ve re-entered the playoff race, some big Porter Martone news, and the schedule that awaits the Orange and Black.
Flyers Are Back in the Playoff Race
Despite losing to the Columbus Blue Jackets in regulation to open up the week—a game seen as a must-win—the Flyers are very much alive in the postseason race. With 86 points in 73 contests, they are just three points out of a playoff spot (accounting for the regulation wins tiebreaker).
The Flyers find themselves on a three-game winning streak, with dominant performances over the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings (well, for most of the game, anyway). They closed out the week with a 2–1 overtime win against the high-flying Dallas Stars.
Related: 2 Takeaways From Flyers’ Thrilling 2–1 OT Win Over Stars
During the winning stretch, Owen Tippett was the biggest standout, with a hat trick vs. the Red Wings and six points overall. With three points each, four other players are also operating at a point-per-game efficiency: Noah Cates, Travis Konecny, Matvei Michkov, and Trevor Zegras.
Between the pipes, Samuel Ersson certainly elevated his game. He made 42 saves on 44 shots across two contests, winning both (vs. the Blackhawks and Stars). Netminder Dan Vladař has been an essential driver of the Flyers’ success, but last week, it was the backup who shone the brightest.
As established, the Flyers are essentially three points out of the playoffs due to having four fewer regulation wins than any Eastern Conference team not named the New York Rangers (eliminated), Toronto Maple Leafs (soon-to-be eliminated), and New Jersey Devils (see Toronto comment). Thus, every game can still be put in the “must-win” category. But the Orange and Black have definitely made things interesting.
Porter Martone Signs ELC, Could Debut on Tuesday
After losing an overtime stunner to the Wisconsin Badgers, top prospect Martone and the Michigan State Spartans were eliminated from the NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament.
While devastating for the player, the loss allowed Martone to sign his three-year, entry-level contract (ELC) on Sunday to become an official member of the Flyers. The 2025 sixth-overall pick is free to make his NHL debut as soon as Tuesday, March 31, against the Washington Capitals.
In fact, that’s the expectation—for Martone to debut in D.C. He attended the team’s big win against the Stars and was in the locker room postgame.
Martone finished his freshman campaign at Michigan State with 25 goals and as many assists in 35 games. He’s a big, cerebral winger with the upside to become an elite shooter and playmaker at the NHL level. Where he’ll play in the Flyers’ lineup is yet to be determined, but a look inside the top nine is all but guaranteed.
With nine regular-season games remaining for the Flyers, Martone won’t burn a year off his ELC if the team fails to make the playoffs. However, if they do make it, he will lose a year. That means he could be making big money in 2028–29, rather than being on a sub-$1 million contract.
Flyers Schedule March 30–April 5
| Date | Time (EDT) | Opponent (Record) | Location |
| Tuesday, March 31 | 7 p.m. | @ Washington Capitals (37–28–9) | Capital One Arena |
| Thursday, April 2 | 7 p.m. | vs. Detroit Red Wings (39–26–8) | Xfinity Mobile Arena |
| Friday, April 3 | 7 p.m. | @ New York Islanders (42–27–5) | UBS Arena |
| Sunday, April 5 | 3:30 p.m. | vs. Boston Bruins (42–24–8) | Xfinity Mobile Arena |
