Alex Bump shows he’s ‘built for the playoffs’ after giving the Flyers a much-needed boost in Game 5
Bump, in his first career playoff game, scored the Flyers' first goal in a 3-2 loss against the Penguins on Monday. He also provided "a ton of energy," teammate Travis Sanheim said.
PITTSBURGH — Alex Bump didn’t know if he would play in this playoff series.
After Porter Martone signed with the Flyers out of college and Tyson Foerster returned from injury, there wasn’t an obvious place for him. As the playoffs started, Bump found himself the odd man out, watching from the press box, “itching” to get in.
On Monday, Bump’s number was finally called, and he delivered in the Flyers’ 3-2 loss in Game 5 to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
» READ MORE: Penguins pull series back to 3-2 with second-straight win
“I think I’m built for the playoffs,” Bump, 22, said postgame. “Just that hard, physical game, shooting mentality, getting pucks to the net.”
On his first shift, Bump turned on the jets to get down the ice, stripped the puck from Pittsburgh’s Blake Lizotte to force a turnover by the blue line, entered the zone cleanly, and got a shot on net. He then landed a hit on Lizotte that gave the Flyers the puck back and time to make a change.
This was all in the span of about 20 seconds.
“He’s got a stop and start game,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said. “As much as he’s got the creativity, the shot, he’s got a stop and start game. In piles and stuff, he’s stopping and coming up with loose pucks.”
The decision to scratch Matvei Michkov for Bump was controversial, but Bump made a quick impact on the scoresheet, scoring the Flyers’ first goal of the game. Just seconds after the Flyers went down 2-0, Bump got a pass from Rasmus Ristolainen and entered the zone cleanly with the puck.
He deked around Parker Wotherspoon and shot the puck past Penguins goalie Artūrs Šilovs into a tight window glove side, giving the Flyers a much-needed boost of energy — which was exactly what Tocchet said he was hoping to get from Bump after practice on Sunday.
“I thought he had a ton of energy, especially early on,” Travis Sanheim said. “Couple hits, good on the forecheck, and then a great play on his goal. It’s a tough spot to come into the middle of a series, I thought he did really well.”
Bump may not have played in an NHL playoff game before Monday, but he won an NCAA title with Western Michigan in 2025. He credited that experience with helping him be ready for the moment in Pittsburgh.
» READ MORE: Flat Flyers ripe for more lineup changes in Game 6 as ‘reverse sweep’ pressure mounts
“I’ve played in these kind of games before,” Bump said. “I’ve played in front of a bunch of fans. It doesn’t intimidate me at all. I love it, actually.”
On a night where the Flyers struggled to generate extended offensive zone time and execute clears, Bump stood out. Per Natural Stat Trick, the Flyers’ expected goals percentage with Bump on the ice was 69.8%, the best of any Flyers player.
In Game 5, Bump entered the zone cleanly with control of the puck three times, and was responsible for another after forcing a turnover on an Anthony Mantha pass and finding Noah Cates, who entered the zone cleanly.
Even though the Flyers lost Game 5, Bump proved he’s worthy of staying in the lineup as the playoffs continue.
“[Bump, Barkey], they’re holding on to pucks,” Tocchet said. “That’s why they’re making some plays out there. We’ve got to get some other guys to hold on to pucks and win some battles in the corners. That’s playoff hockey.”
