Sports
Michkov, Martone power Flyers to first win after nine-game winless start
Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone each scored and assisted as Philadelphia beat Ottawa 3-1 Saturday night. The victory ended the Flyers’ nine-game winless start to the season.
PHILADELPHIA — The Flyers ended their nine-game winless start Saturday night, beating the Ottawa Senators 3-1 behind a goal and an assist apiece from Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone.
Philadelphia had scored just 11 goals in its first nine games. It reached three for the first time this season, improving its record to 1-6-3.
Ottawa took a first-period lead when Drake Batherson finished a two-on-one rush, one-timing a pass from former Flyer Claude Giroux past goaltender Dan Vladar.
Michkov tied it at 9:03 of the second period with a pass to the far post, where Martone tapped in his second goal of the season. On a power play late in the period, Martone sent a shot toward the net; Linus Ullmark made the initial save, but Michkov collected the rebound and scored at 18:33 to put Philadelphia ahead.
The goal was Michkov’s 50th in 171 career games, making him the fastest Flyer to reach that mark since Matt Read in 2014. Trevor Zegras added an empty-net goal with 14 seconds remaining.
Vladar stopped 25 shots for Philadelphia. Ullmark also made 25 saves for Ottawa, suffering his first defeat after winning his first six starts. That opening run matched Ray Emery’s franchise record for consecutive wins by a Senators goaltender to start a season.
The Flyers host the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. Ottawa begins a three-game homestand Wednesday against Florida.