Ex-Spartan Porter Martone takes NHL playoffs by storm
Ex-Spartan Porter Martone is the first NHL rookie to score playoff winners in his first two games.
Former Spartan Porter Martone is certainly having fun these days with the Philadelphia Flyers. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound power forward is the first teenager in NHL history to score the game-winning goal in each of his first two career playoff games. He's also the third rookie in league history to score game-winning goals in consecutive games to start a postseason, joining Brett Hull in 1988 and Cooney Weiland in 1929.
The Flyers hold a 2-0 edge against the in-state rival Pittsburgh Penguins in the best-of-seven series. Game 3 is Wednesday in Philadelphia. "I think I've got to give a lot of credit to the guys in this room," Martone said.
"They've taught me a lot, not just on the hockey side, but the life side. I've said this before, but I think I made the jump (from college) because I thought I was ready and I thought I could help this team. " Martone led the Spartans in scoring with 25 goals and 25 assists and finished his freshman season as one of just five freshmen in program history to tally 50 points.
His 25 goals were the second-most all-time by a Spartan rookie behind only Rod Brind'Amour's 27 in 1988-89. He missed two games while serving as captain of Canada's bronze-medaling team at the world junior championships in Minneapolis. This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Porter Martone sets NHL playoff record with game-winning goals