Big third period, strong defensive effort propel Flyers to Game 1 win over Penguins

PITTSBURGH — In a physical, chippy start to the playoffs Saturday 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 as the Flyers took Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round series with Pittsburgh. The Flyers’ defenseman made a skillful move to split two Penguins and fire home the puck from the slot.

“Not bad,” Rasmus Ristolainen said with a smile. “I don’t think many players can do that in that moment — third period, even game and made a hell of a play.”

Porter Martone provided important insurance with an absolute snipe. Bryan Rust made it interesting with a late goal when Pittsburgh had its net emptied. However, the Flyers held on, thanks to a key save by Dan Vladar.

Jamie Drysdale opened the scoring past the midway point of the game, but Evgeni Malkin struck later in the second period to make it 1-1.

Rick Tocchet’s club, though, played a strong defensive game and had a terrific third period.

“I think we kind of tightened things up as the year went on and played some good defense,” Sean Couturier said. “It’s kind of part of our identity. We did a good job, but we know they’re going to respond, we know they’re going to come hard next game. We’ve got to keep respecting their skill and just be prepared.”

The Flyers were playing their first playoff game since 2020 after snapping their five-year drought Monday night.

The Penguins are back in the postseason for the first time since 2022.

“It’s an intense series,” Drysdale said. “The rivalry’s obviously there. You can tell from Game 1. I’d expect it to only ramp up as the series goes on.”

• Vladar, who enjoyed a breakout regular season, carried the momentum into the playoffs.

The 28-year-old converted 15 saves on 17 shots.

On Malkin’s game-tying goal, the Flyers got stuck in the defensive zone. Vladar made an initial save, but the rebound sprung to Malkin, who fired away from the circle.

But Vladar was his reliable self and the Flyers didn’t give up many quality looks.

“We’re all buying into what we’re trying to do,” Trevor Zegras said. “That’s what you get when you get 23 guys on the same page.”

Pittsburgh netminder Stuart Skinner was solid, turning away a number of good chances by the Flyers. He had 17 saves on 20 shots.

Sanheim and Martone beat him on sharp shots.

Before that, Skinner stopped Denver Barkey in the third period after the rookie picked off a pass to go the other way.

A little before the halfway mark of the game, Skinner denied an Owen Tippett breakaway after Tyson Foerster made a great stretch pass. But the Flyers struck 58 seconds later when Drysdale scored his first career playoff goal.

“I thought we played a smart game,” Tocchet said. “I thought Stuart was really good. I mean, he stopped three or four really Grade A chances. Vladdy was good, too. Both goaltenders were really good tonight.”

• Tocchet’s club really wants to keep this series at 5-on-5 as much as possible.

Since March 1, the Flyers were tied for the second-most power play goals allowed with 19. But in that span, they were the stingiest defensive team at 5-on-5, giving up a league-low 30 goals.

The Flyers didn’t give the Penguins much. Just two power plays.

Meanwhile, the Flyers thought they had a power play goal and 1-0 lead in the first period when Christian Dvorak careened toward the net. He ended up barreling into Skinner slightly before the puck crossed the goal line. The officials waved it off immediately and stuck with the call after some consultation.

So, in a simpler way of putting it, the league credited Skinner with the save before Dvorak ran into him, which caused the puck to come loose.

The Flyers’ power play finished 0 for 3.

• At just 19 years old and three weeks since leaving college, Martone made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut.

Think about this: Martone was just 2 years old when Sidney Crosby won his first of three Stanley Cup titles. Interestingly, Martone got the chance to see Crosby up close last offseason as teammates on Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.

“You could say he’s kind of like your hockey idol when you’re a kid,” Martone said after morning skate. “Win Stanley Cups, captain of Team Canada, he’s kind of the face of the NHL, too. It’s someone who I’ve looked up to as a kid. You see what he has done for the game of hockey. He’s not just a great hockey player, but he’s an even better human, what he does in the community. So it’s going to be exciting to go against him this series.”

Martone played well in his first taste of the playoffs. He made some things happen and didn’t try to do too much. He also shrugged off a so-so start. His goal was a beauty and pretty much sealed the Flyers’ win.

“He was trying to figure out the pace, he had a couple of turnovers, he knew it,” Tocchet said. “And then he just gets a goal like that. I mean, it’s hard to find guys like that. In the playoffs, you’ve just got to stick with it because you can have that big moment. Things aren’t going your way, you’ve just got to stick with it.”

• Led by Couturier and Garnet Hathaway, the Flyers’ fourth line played with a style that’s needed this time of year.

Tocchet relied on that line to start the first and second periods. The veteran group finished its checks and was dependable all night.

The Flyers had 40 hits as a team. The Penguins had 41.

Couturier had a game-high seven hits and won five of his eight faceoffs.

“I think understands playoff hockey more than anyone on our team,” Sanheim said. “He did a great job of setting the tone early. Just little plays throughout the game, managing it, doing the little things right. That’s what we need from him.”

• The series picks back up Monday with Game 2 at PPG Paints Arena (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

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