PITTSBURGH (AP) — Questions about the Philadelphia Flyers’ youth and playoff inexperience disappeared during 60 minutes of composed, confident play that resulted in a 3-2 triumph against Pittsburgh in Saturday night’s opening game of their first-round playoff matchup.
Twenty-four-year-old Jamie Drysdale, among 10 Flyers making their first playoff appearance, engaged in early physical play with Penguins leader Sidney Crosby before scoring the go-ahead goal in the second period. His shot found its target through a perfectly positioned screen set by 20-year-old Denver Barkey.
The decisive goal came from 19-year-old Porter Martone late in the third period, who delivered a wrist shot from the right side after executing a brilliant move where he slowed down and spun to create space in front of Pittsburgh’s Noel Acciari.
“I kind of stopped up and shot it and luckily it went in,” Martone said with characteristic modesty.
Playing in only his 10th NHL game, Martone noticed the atmosphere change from regular season to postseason hockey. The hostile reception from thousands of yellow towel-waving Pittsburgh supporters during warmups provided clear evidence, as did the fierce pace of the opening period when the cross-state rivals’ first playoff encounter in eight years quickly turned contentious.
Philadelphia held their own, frequently controlling play against the Penguins, who despite their own roster changes still rely heavily on their veteran core of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson — players with a collective 573 playoff games of experience.
Though Malkin contributed a goal and assist, Crosby remained largely ineffective, while Letang and Karlsson were part of a Pittsburgh defensive unit that seemed unprepared for Philadelphia’s pace.
“The execution wasn’t really what we were hoping for,” Karlsson said. “We didn’t really set out to do what we needed to do on our game plan. We turned too many pucks over in the wrong spot. We made it hard on ourselves.”
Karlsson expressed confidence that first-year head coach Dan Muse and his staff will provide better solutions for Monday’s Game 2.
For Pittsburgh to make their postseason return after three years meaningful, they have little alternative but to improve.
Muse wasn’t surprised by Philadelphia’s counterattack strategy. What may have caught the Penguins off-guard was how the Flyers’ playoff newcomers showed no signs of intimidation from either the setting or their opponents.
This confidence has characterized Philadelphia’s recent play, as they surged into the playoffs following an impressive late-season run powered by energetic young players who haven’t learned to doubt themselves.
The Flyers acknowledged their improbable journey by wearing special t-shirts to Saturday’s morning practice featuring Hall of Fame goaltender Bernie Parent’s mask design, the word “Believe” on the back, and “3.8” on the sleeves — representing their playoff odds at one point this season.
In many ways, Philadelphia is playing with nothing to lose. They rank among the biggest longshots in the 16-team tournament to end a Stanley Cup championship drought spanning five decades. That pressure seemed absent during their opening performance.
Nobody anticipated their playoff berth when they sat 13th in the Eastern Conference following the Olympic break, a time when Martone was completing his lone season at Michigan State.
Philadelphia head coach Rick Tocchet, who was 20 during his first NHL playoff experience with the Flyers over 40 years ago, understands the unique pressures of postseason hockey.
The stakes intensify, players grip their sticks more tightly, and the mental challenge can overwhelm anyone, especially those just weeks into their professional careers. Tocchet has deliberately maintained a relaxed environment.
“They might be nervous, so we tried to really relax the atmosphere,” Tocchet said.
Philadelphia appeared calm following their victory, but appropriately so. While Tocchet observed some celebration from the younger players, they avoided getting carried away.
Veteran leadership from players like 33-year-old captain Sean Couturier helps maintain perspective. The experienced forward knows how rapidly situations can change and still awaits his first opportunity to advance past the second round.
Saturday’s result represents a positive beginning, but remains just that — a start. Limiting the NHL’s third-highest scoring team to 17 shots, as they accomplished in the opener, may prove difficult to repeat.
However, the effort and intensity Philadelphia used to disrupt Pittsburgh’s rhythm is sustainable.
While Saturday technically marked the playoff debut for nearly half the players wearing orange, black and white, Philadelphia’s postseason mentality began much earlier.
“We’ve been playing big games for the last month, month and a half, meaningful games, must-win games,” Couturier said. “We’re put to the test and thought we did a good job of preparing ourselves and being ready.”
