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TL;DR
The Philadelphia Flyers clinched a playoff spot after five years and aim for a 3-0 lead against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Young winger Porter Martone scored in both playoff games, contributing to the Flyers' success.
Key points
- Philadelphia Flyers end five-year playoff drought
- Flyers lead series 2-0 against Pittsburgh Penguins
- Porter Martone scores winning goals in both games
- Dan Vladar achieves first playoff shutout
Philadelphia FlyersPittsburgh PenguinsPorter MartoneDan Vladar
It took until their 81st game of the 2025-26 NHL season for the Philadelphia Flyers to clinch a spot and end their five-year playoff drought. They now have a chance to move within one victory of advancing to the second round.
The Flyers attempt to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. Philadelphia, which finished third in the Metropolitan Division to secure its first postseason berth since 2019-20, went into Pittsburgh and limited the Penguins to a total of two goals en route to a pair of wins.
After recording the winning goal in his first career playoff game, Flyers 19-year-old right wing Porter Martone repeated the feat in Game 2 as he opened the scoring at 13:39 of the second period. The tally proved to be enough for Dan Vladar, who turned aside all 27 shots he faced for the first playoff shutout of his career.
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One of the two other NHL Playoff contests that take place Wednesday has the Minnesota Wild hosting the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of their series. The Wild routed the Stars 6-1 in the opener to steal home ice, but Dallas answered with a 4-2 triumph as Wyatt Johnston scored twice while Matt Duchene registered a goal and an assist.
Q&A
How did the Philadelphia Flyers end their playoff drought?
The Philadelphia Flyers clinched a playoff spot by finishing third in the Metropolitan Division, marking their first postseason appearance since the 2019-20 season.
What is the current series score between the Flyers and Penguins?
The Flyers currently lead the series 2-0 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Who scored the winning goal for the Flyers in their playoff games?
Porter Martone scored the winning goal in both of the Flyers' playoff games so far, showcasing his impact as a 19-year-old rookie.
What was Dan Vladar's performance in the Flyers' playoff games?
Dan Vladar recorded a shutout in Game 2, stopping all 27 shots he faced, marking the first playoff shutout of his career.
