After earning two assists on Friday during Team Canada’s 5-3 victory over Sweden at the World Hockey Championships in Switzerland, Flyers winger (and Team Canada member) Porter Martone proved that the two assists weren’t a fluke. In fact, the third assist of the tournament for the 19-year-old might have been the best we’ve seen from the youngster in a few months. And, considering just how remarkable some of the assists have been, that’s saying something.
With Canada leading 2-0 late in the opening period against Italy, Martone had the puck and blew by the Italian defender around the net. His speed then enabled him to get by the second defender as he began gliding away from the Italian goaltender.
Porter Martone makes insane pass to continue success at Worlds
Martone’s peripheral vision spotted his new linemate Macklin Celebrini finding a lot of time and space on the opposite faceoff dot in the offensive zone. The Flyers forward got near the top of the faceoff circle to the left of the Italian goal and rifled a lengthy seam pass. Given the width of the international ice hockey venues, the speed and precision of the pass made it all the more brilliant.
The pass was absolutely perfect as Celebrini got everything on it and buried the howitzer over the Italian goaltender to make it a 3-0 score. Martone had all five Italian players focused on him, but by threading the needle as deftly as he did, he enabled Celebrini to tee up his shot, which was only possible thanks to the fantastic pass. Words don’t really do it justice so have a look below.
As you can hear, the play left the Canadian announcers a bit speechless, with Martone seeing himself on the ice five-on-five alongside the San Jose Shark phenom in Celebrini, and Sidney Crosby, the latter Martone and Philadelphia eliminated in the first round.
Team Canada cruised to a 6-0 win over Italy as Celebrini had two goals and an assist in the game. Martone now has three points in the first two games as Canada is now 2-0 to start the Group B phase to the tournament.
Canada’s next game will be May 18 against Denmark. We’re not sure if Martone will still find himself on a line with Celebrini and Crosby in that game, but considering he was slated for the fourth line to start the tournament against Sweden on Friday, it appears he’s turning some heads yet again.
He has done it at the World Junior Championship level, the NCAA level, the National Hockey League level, and now at the World Hockey Championships. Most likely you haven’t seen the last of Martone’s name on the scoresheet.
