Bryce Harper is keeping close tabs on Flyers’ playoff push: ‘Just awesome to see’

SAN FRANCISCO — The Phillies wrapped up their series against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday and were en route to California when Bryce Harper checked the Flyers score.

He knew Sunday’s game against the Boston Bruins was important for the Flyers’ playoff chances, and when he saw the teams were tied, 1-1, and headed to overtime, he flipped it on.

And Harper tuned in just in time to see rookie Porter Martone score his first-ever NHL goal on the power play to win it for the Flyers, pushing them into playoff position for the first time since Jan. 12.

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“It was just awesome to see,” Harper said. “The crowd go at it, players go at it, and then five-on-three in that moment. You’re five-on-three, you better score.”

Harper gave a shoutout to Martone on his TikTok account after the game. The 19-year-old winger signed with the Flyers after Michigan State, his college team, was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament. Martone made his debut on March 31, the same night as Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter.

Harper, a Las Vegas native, has been a Golden Knights fan since the team was founded in 2017. He saw firsthand how the Stanley Cup playoffs can electrify a city, and hopes the Flyers can hold onto their position in the standings over their five remaining games so Philadelphia can experience that again.

“Just excited to see what that looks like in Philly,” Harper said. “Obviously, the Flyers have had huge success early in the franchise and things like that. It’s been obviously a little tough throughout the years, the last couple, but I’m excited to see what playoff hockey is all about, because I know that people are craving any type of winning.

“But it’s a little bit different, man. In hockey, anybody can win, anybody that gets hot at the right time or their goalie is good. If a goalie gets hot at the right time and you score, it’s fun to watch. I think live, it’s the best sport.”

The Flyers haven’t made the playoffs since the 2019-20 season, when the playoffs were held in a bubble in Toronto and Edmonton due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last time Philadelphia hosted a playoff hockey game was 2017-18, a first-round series loss to the Penguins.

If they do make it, Harper hopes the schedules work out so he can attend a game. His 6-year-old son, Krew, is a big Flyers fan.

“When the Flyers are playing, he’s got his Flyers jersey on,” Harper said. “He’s got the Flyers hat on with Gritty on there. He’s a huge Flyers kid. … He asked me during the offseason, all the time, ‘The Flyers are on tonight? The Flyers are on tonight?’ So we turn on NBC Philly and watch them every time we can.”

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Orion Kerkering (hamstring strain) rejoined the team in San Francisco and will be activated on Tuesday. Phillies manager Rob Thomson wanted Kerkering to have an additional day of rest before he was reinstated from the injured list. … Infield prospect Aidan Miller (lower back) is still not swinging a bat, but has continued to ramp up his activities. “We’re getting closer. He’s getting better,” Thomson said. … Cristopher Sánchez (1-0, 0.79 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday’s game against Giants lefty Robbie Ray (1-1, 3.38).