Adam Nightingale just knows how to accrue talent and get guys to the NHL. In four years as Michigan State’s head coach, he has won three Big Ten titles and has produced countless NHL draft picks, but that elusive Frozen Four still haunts him.
While he’s going to get back to the drawing board to figure out how to get over that hump and make a push for the program’s first national title in two decades, he’ll do so while taking in some playoff hockey. He did lose some big-time players like Porter Martone and Trey Augustine to the pros this offseason, but he’s already reloading.
After landing Cullen Potter in the portal, he can take a deep breath and relax.
I would bet that one of the most relaxing times of the year for NCAA hockey coaches like Nightingale is the start of the NHL Playoffs. These coaches get to watch their former players star for Stanley Cup contenders and help put their respective programs on the map. Nightingale has to be extra happy this year with Martone making a name for himself.
After signing with the Flyers just three weeks ago, Porter Martone has made his presence felt, recording nine points in 10 regular-season games over 2.5 weeks. Then he scored the eventual game-winning goal against the Penguins over the weekend, making NHL history in the process.
Porter Martone is the only NHL teenager this century with a GWG in his playoff debut. pic.twitter.com/TmReUnOLi7
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) April 19, 2026
Martone became the only teenager this century to score the game-winning goal in his playoff debut. That’s the sign of a true star. Only two other rookies have scored goals in their first-ever playoff game since 2020 so Martone is also in rare territory there.
The Spartan rookie’s immediate ascension into stardom has been fun to watch and it looks like he’s going to have a pretty long career to follow.
Porter Martone has brought the juice to Philly
Before Martone signed with the Flyers and joined the organization three weeks ago, the Flyers were unlikely to make the NHL Playoffs. They then lost their first two games with Martone in town, dropping their chances to make the postseason to under 30 percent.
Since then, something clicked. Philadelphia won six out of its final seven regular-season games and Martone had nine points over the final six games.
After helping push the Flyers into the playoffs, Martone scored the eventual game-winning goal against the Penguins in his first-ever postseason game. He’s been in the league for three weeks but it feels like he’s already becoming a star. I mean, he’s already making history.
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