Martone even playing above his pre-arrival hype

PHILADELPHIA – The day Porter Martone finished his season with Michigan State and signed a pro contract, the Flyers knew they were getting a very good player.
But few were aware he was THIS good.
How about four goals/11 points in his first 10 games as a fresh rookie? That’s record books stuff.
The red-hot start continued on Tuesday night when he picked up a goal and an assist in a 4-2 season-closing win over Montreal at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Martone seems to be taking all this early success in stride. He did score 25 goals for the Spartans his only year there but the NHL is a rather steep step above.
Yet, at 19, somehow he looks like he’s been playing in the pros for a number of years.
“I think I’m learning everyday,” he said after the game. “You dream of playing in the NHL. It’s been an adjustment but I keep getting help from the guys in this room.”
Have his own numbers surprised him?
“You know I think I made the jump to the NHL because I thought I was ready,” Martone said. “If I didn’t, I would have stayed at Michigan State for another year.
“These guys have been amazing with me. The coaching staff has believed in me. It’s been awesome. I just try to get better every single day.”
Martone said the Michigan State experience was helpful in making the transition to the NHL from junior.
“I believed in myself,” he said. “Just kind of the work I did at Michigan State. The big thing for me was being a more reliable player. It’s something I worked on throughout the year.”
He also gives credit to linemates Travis Konecny and Christian Dvorak for helping get acclimated to the NHL game.
“We talk every time we get back to the bench,” Martone said. “Two really established players in this league. So it’s always good to take things from them.”
Besides Martone, it was a big night for almost all the kids. Alex Bump scored a goal, Matvei Michkov had a goal and two assists and Oliver Bonk had a goal.
“All those kids are really developing,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “And they’re playing in tough situations. Obviously it’s a good future.”
Tocchet is impressed with the way the youngsters get ready for games.
“Preparation,” he said. “When they come to the rink, how to prepare. Using the video room, dealing with assistant coaches asking questions.
“This is a different level and they’re embracing it. They’re only going to get better, right, in these situations.”

>Michkov’s turnaround

Michkov has really turned things around since the Olympic break and that culminated in his 20th goal on Tuesday night. He fell short of last season’s 26 but it was a nice comeback after a dreadful start to the season.
What made the difference?
“He’s got information and he’s starting to understand it and applying it,” Tocchet said. “Maybe before he didn’t understand it as much and got frustrated. The communication is a lot better to, (getting past) the language barrier.”

>Bump bounces back

Bump had been scratched the previous two games, so this was a nice bounce-back performance.
“I told him he’s not out because he deserved it,” Tocchet said. “I told ‘Jonesy’ (president Keith Jones), we’ve got to get this guy in the lineup somehow. He’s going to get in, we just have to figure a way. Really enjoyed his game tonight.”

>Ersson ready if needed

Goaltender Sam Ersson has turned his things around after the Olympic break as well.
He wants to be ready if called upon in the playoffs.
“It feels good,” he said of the turnaround. “The whole team put on a good run. That was huge. A lot of good feelings, got the momentum going in here.”