Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Washington Capitals defeated the visiting Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday night by the score of 6-4. Here are five things that stood out in the contest.
Porter Martone’s NHL Debut
Tonight was in fact the night, the first game of Porter Martone’s NHL career. Head coach Rick Tocchet had Martone out there for the opening faceoff. What a way to start your career sharing the ice with future Hall of Famer Alex Ovechkin on your first shift.
It was a night of firsts for the newest Flyer and he did not look at all out of place in his debut. He was taking regular shifts on a line with Travis Konecny and Christian Dvorak. He was also seeing shifts on the power-play. He did not shy away from physical play and he had a team leading 5 shots on goal. He’s only been skating with the team since yesterday. I would say he’s off to a fine start.
A night of numbers
This was the 4th and final match-up between these 2 teams for the 2025-26 season. Both teams won their home games to split the series.
The Flyers were hoping to break a team record with their 9th consecutive win on the road. That of course did not happen so they will settle for tying the franchise record of 8 in a row set in 1982.
The Capitals spoiled their plans and now sit just 1 point behind the Flyers who are tied with the Red Wings and Senators just 2 points out of the final wild card spot in the East. …so tight it squeaks.
Tom Wilson played his 900th NHL game. Emil Andrae played his 100th. Ovechkin scored his 30th and 31st goals of the season. It’s the 20th time Ovechkin has hit the 30 goal mark in his career.
Ovechkin was on the ice during the final minutes of the game but did not have the opportunity to get the hattrick on an empty net goal. If he had it would have been the 12th time of his career. Ovi loves and empty net, just sayin’.
Physicality
This game was plenty physical right out of the gate. Both teams were banging and bodies were flying. Philly out-hit the Caps 34-25. At one point Rasmus Ristolainen checked Hendrix Lapierre totally up and over the boards into his own bench. Just inserted him in there for an early line change.
Ristolainen played a strong game at both ends of the ice. If Risto wasn’t already on the roster and we picked up someone just like him at the trade deadline people would be stoked.
The physical play was fun to watch but at times it was a distraction from the mission at hand. Early in the 1st period Trevor Zegras got steam-rolled in the Washington zone. Owen Tippett came flying in and delivered a heavy but clean retaliatory check, Travis Konecny joined in on the fun taking out a man. This all led to the Caps pulling away in the other direction and Tom Wilson scoring the 1st goal of the game.
8 vs 8
From the very start of this contest Flyer Cam York had a bullseye on his back, at least as far as Alex Ovechkin was concerned. He delivered a couple big hits to York in the opening minutes of the contest.
Towards the end of the 1st period with the Capitals attacking in the Flyers zone York was being a bit delicate trying to control a rebound right in front of the net. Ovechkin charged in and smashed it into the goal. Beast mode.
Goaltending
Dan Vladar has clearly been a force field in the Flyers net this season. Many say he’s been the team MVP and for good reason. Vladar has been the difference in so many contests this season. He has kept them in games and flat out stolen some of them for his team.
That being said, just like the rest of us, he’s only human. To date Vladar has played, and won, more games this season than any other in his career. His workload has been heavy due to his success between the pipes. The Capitals kept pulling him from side to side then picking his glove hand apart. He doesn’t usually let teams get away with that.
Every now and then he is going to have an off night. This was one of them. His positioning and recovery did not look up to his high standards right from the get go. It happens, he’s just got to put it behind him ASAP, as he usually does.
Next Up: Thursday night 7PM in Philly. Game 2 of the Flyers Red Wings “series”. The second of three match-ups before the regular season ends. This is a big one.
About Author
