These Fly Guys Are For Real: This Week In Philly Sports

The Philadelphia Flyers are on fire in the NHL Playoffs. Meanwhile, the Sixers stole a victory in Boston to split their playoff series.

By Dino Ciliberti, Patch Staff

Apr 22, 2026 9:05 am EDT | Updated Apr 22, 2026 9:07 am EDT

Philadelphia Flyers' Porter Martone looks at the scoreboard after scoring during the third period of Game 1 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh on Saturday. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar))

PHILADELPHIA, PA — He's 19 and has suddenly become the talk of the National Hockey League.

Porter Martone is making headlines with his goal-scoring prowess during the first two games of the Philadelphia Flyers' playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

And as the series heads to Philly with the Flyers up 2-0, this team of Fly Guys is taking the city by storm and will be greeted on Wednesday night like conquering heroes.

Martone might be the future face of the franchise, but let's try to nail down this first playoff round against the hated Sidney Crosby and the Pens.

While they haven't won anything yet, Flyers Hockey is back on the map. And it's about time: We've waited for decades.

Going into this year, Philly fans expected more from the Sixers than the Flyers.

Both teams so far have made an impact.

The Flyers come home to a fan frenzy, and so do the Sixers after a Gritty (Yes, the Flyers mascot) win against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night after getting blown away by 32 points in Game 1.

The Sixers may also have a rising star like Martone in VJ Edgecombe, who did something in the playoffs that topped Magic Johnson: Becoming the youngest rookie ever in NBA playoff history with 30 points and 10 rebounds.

There's nothing like home cooking. Both teams will benefit from that in holding the momentum in their playoff series now.

The Sixers may receive a big boost soon.

Oft-injured star Joel Embiid could return from his appendix surgery on Friday, finally giving the big man the opportunity to play in the playoffs healthy for the first time in years.

We usually just think about the playoffs involving the Eagles and the Phillies. They are the perennial playoff performers.

So this is an exciting time.

The Flyers may be playing with house money where these youngers who have no playoff experience are just enjoying their time and playing loose and free.

The Sixers have always disappointed us in the playoffs.

They actually haven't beaten the Celtics in a playoff series since Julius Erving put on a Sixers jersey. Maybe this team can steal this series. Maybe Embiid can make a comeback.

For now, we will enjoy the Flyers and hope they can make a run to the Stanley Cup, something this city hasn't experienced in over a decade.

Let's Go Flyers! Let's Go Sixers.

Both teams have given fans a reason to believe.