Flyers steal Game 1 in Pittsburgh, beat the Penguins 3-2
The Flyers are playing playoff hockey for the first time in six years and they just walked into Pittsburgh and took Game 1.
In a physical, chippy, everything-you-want-from-a-playoff-game kind of night, the Flyers beat the Penguins 3-2 at PPG Paints Arena.
Travis Sanheim scored the go-ahead goal at the halfway mark of the third period by splitting two Penguins and firing it home from the slot.
Porter Martone added insurance with an absolute snipe that pretty much sealed it. Bryan Rust made it interesting late with a goal on the empty net but Dan Vladar shut the door and the Flyers held on.
Travis Sanheim Go-Ahead Goal in the Third
Jamie Drysdale opened the scoring with his first career playoff goal. Evgeni Malkin tied it in the second on a rebound and then the Flyers took over in the third and played the kind of hockey that wins series.
This is exactly what I said would happen. Go into that dump of an arena, steal Game 1, bring the momentum. Blueprint executed.
Trevor Zegras finds Jamie Drysdale
Vladar Was Rock Solid. Skinner Was Fine. For Now.
Fifteen saves on 17 shots from Vladar and the kind of calm, steady performance that makes you feel like the Flyers finally have a real goalie. He wasn’t spectacular because he didn’t need to be.
The Flyers played defense in front of him and he handled his business.
Malkin’s goal was a product of the Flyers getting stuck in the zone and a rebound kicking right to one of the most dangerous scorers in playoff history. That’s going to happen. Outside of that, Vladar was locked in and Pittsburgh never felt like they were going to take control of the game.
I said Skinner was going to fold under playoff pressure. I’ll give him credit for Game 1 because he was actually solid. Seventeen saves on 20 shots and he stopped breakaways from both Denver Barkey and Owen Tippett that should have been goals.
Sanheim and Martone beat him on pure skill and there’s nothing any goalie is doing about those shots. Yes, it’s one game. The pressure is going to ramp up and we’ll see how Skinner handles it when the Flyers come at him harder in Game 2.
Porter Martone Scored in His Playoff Debut at 19 Years Old.
Three Weeks Out of College.
I don’t need to say much more than that. The kid was two years old when Crosby won his first Cup. He had a couple of turnovers early while he figured out the pace of playoff hockey. Then he ripped an absolute laser in the third period to give the Flyers a two-goal cushion in his first ever postseason game. Three weeks removed from college hockey. That’s the kind of player you either have or you don’t.
Porter Martone has it. End of discussion.
Couturier Set the Tone and the Flyers 4th Line Was Nasty
Seven hits and five faceoff wins out of eight for Couturier. The fourth line of Couturier, Glendening, and Hathaway started the first and second periods and played exactly the way you need your bottom six to play in the postseason.
Physical. Dependable. In your face all night.
The Flyers had 40 hits as a team. Pittsburgh had 41. This series is going to be a war and the Flyers proved Saturday they’re not going to back down from it.
The 5-on-5 Game Plan Is Working Perfectly
The Flyers only gave Pittsburgh two power plays all night. Two. I said before the series that the Penguins’ biggest advantage is special teams and the way you neutralize it is by keeping the game at 5-on-5 and staying out of the box.
Saturday night the Flyers did exactly that.
Since March 1st, the Flyers have allowed a league-low 30 goals at 5-on-5. The stingiest team in hockey. Saturday was more of the same. They didn’t give Pittsburgh anything at even strength and they kept the penalties to a minimum.
The Flyers’ power play went 0-for-3 which is ugly but expected. They had a goal waved off when Dvorak crashed into Skinner right before the puck crossed the line. Tough break but they overcame it because this team doesn’t fold when things don’t go their way.
Keep the game at 5-on-5 and the Flyers win this series.
Game 2 Monday Night. Chance to Go Up 2-0 on the Road.
Game 2 is Monday at PPG Paints Arena. 7 p.m. ET on NBCSP. The Flyers have a chance to go up 2-0 before this series even comes back to Philadelphia. Steal another one in Pittsburgh and Crosby and the old guard are going to be staring at a hole they can’t climb out of.
Flyers in 6. Said it before the series. Nothing about Game 1 changed my mind. This team is for real and Pittsburgh doesn’t have the answer.
Shoutout Phans of Philly
I told you. Phans of Philly doesn’t lose on the road. Hope Joe and company just stay in Pittsburgh for Game 2. The win last night moved Phans of Philly to the 7-0-0 when hitting the road for Flyers games. Truly incredible. Check out upcoming trips here.
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