What Made Martone Look Like a Pro in Star-Studded NCAA Matchup

Over the weekend, Flyers prospect Porter Martone and the top-ranked Michigan State Spartans took on the No. 3-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions in East Lansing, Michigan. The highly anticipated matchup between Martone and Gavin McKenna did not disappoint.

Michigan State swept the series, with the Spartans winning game one in overtime, 2-1, and a big 5-0 shutout victory in game two.

For me, it was the first time I had the opportunity to watch a whole series of Spartan hockey in the Porter Martone era.

The Flyers prospect put on a show over the weekend, showing just why the Flyers selected him sixth overall and just why it was a steal.

Here are some of the things I noticed while watching Martone this weekend.

Read More: Nagging Problems Doom Flyers in Winnable Game

Martone lives in front of the net

During the first game, one of the first things I noticed was Martone’s presence net-front. The Flyers have had some issues with consistent net-front play. Martone could be a great solution.

MSU was playing with a lead for a bit of the game, but even when tied, Martone parked in front of the net. The 6’3″ winger has size and plenty of strength – he uses it to his advantage.

Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects spoke with Martone during the weekend, revealing that he had put on nine pounds and is now down 4% body fat.

After being drafted, the sixth overall pick said he wanted to get bigger, stronger, and faster. It looks like he is accomplishing that.

Michigan State did not score with Martone net-front during the weekend, but they did create some solid chances, especially during game one. The Flyers could use someone who parks in front.

Read More: Flyers Analysis: Despite a Season Low in Ice Time, Michkov Looks Poised for his Breakout

Big first period on Saturday

Martone was held scoreless during Friday’s series opener. He clearly looked like one of the best skaters in the contest, but just could not find the score sheet. On Satuday, he started the game with a bang.

Martone earned the primary assist on Charlie Strammel’s game-opening score. He then followed it up with a goal of his own.

The first goal was Martone to Strammel. This time, it was Martone cashing in on a cross-crease feed from the Spartans’ center.

Martone just looked grown during Saturday’s game. He looked strong with the puck and was given plenty of opportunity to showcase his skill.

While this game was a battle between No. 1 and No. 3, Martone vs. McKenna was the headline of the series. Between the two prospects, the Flyers’ draft choice was clearly the better player.

Now, you do have to keep in mind that McKenna is a whole year younger than Martone. Regardless, it was a great sign to see him outskate a “must tank for” prospect.

Martone will fit in just fine with the Flyers

After watching the series over the past weekend, I came away with two key takeaways. First, I am eager for these two teams to meet again in State College at the end of January. That was must-see hockey.

The second: Porter Martone is going to fit in just fine whenever he joins the Flyers organization. He just looked like a pro.

Martone plays a physical style of hockey, but combines it with an excellent shot and skill. Just watching him reminds me a lot of Tyson Foerster’s game. Both players combine their size with a high-end shot, while also remaining physical. I think Martone skates a little better, but the combination of size and skill felt like a good comparison.

He also seemed to be a big talker after the whistle. No matter what happened in the preceding play, Martone always seemed to be talking to someone on the opposition. However, he showed he was not afraid to mix it up.

Porter Martone is going to be a very fun player to watch in Philadelphia.

Read More: James: Trevor Zegras Needed A Fresh Start, But the Flyers Needed Zegras More