Flyers Sweep Rookie Series
Barkey Leads the Way in 4-1 Win
September 13, 2026
Allentown, PA – The Philadelphia Flyers capped their second-ever sweep of the NHL Rookie Series with a Sunday evening 4-1 victory over the New York Rangers. It was the second time for Philly to sweep the weekend set and the first since the debut of the Rookie Series in 2022.
A star-packed lineup featuring four first-rounders thrilled the PPL Center crowd and didn’t disappoint. Denver Barkey led the way with a goal and an assist. Young defenseman Brek Liske fulfilled a lifelong dream by scoring his first goal as a Flyer. Noah Powell showcased his grit and toughness and returned to the ice following a torn jersey to score an empty-netter. Porter Martone completed the scoring with his own empty-net conversion set up by Barkey.
The Flyers took control from the start but New York goaltender Danaii Shaiikov kept his team in the game with several strong stops. Philadelphia also featured strong goaltending from a pair of 2026 draftee. Czechia products Martin Psohlavec (7/7)) and Marek Sklenicka (8/9) have been friends since childhood, were drafted by the Flyers together, and could become future teammates with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in a couple years. They will both be heading back to their respective teams in the WHL in a two weeks.
Some quick transition got the Flyers on the board with Jett Luchanko connecting up ice for Oliver Bonk who spun from the corner to find a moving Barkey who swooped around the goaltender to tuck it in around his left skate at 16:28. It was the second Rookie Series in a row in which Barkey scored the first goal of the game.
A Porter Martone turnover in front of the Philadelphia goal led to a Liam Greentree goal from Adam Sykora to tie the score at 1-1 at 12:39 into the second period. Martone said he owned up to the mistake and told new goaltender Marek Sklenicka he would get it back for him.
Spencer Gill’s shot late in the second period bounded off the shoulder of Shaiikov but defenseman Brek Liske had rotated forward and was ready for the quick put-back from a sharp angle scoring from the left corner off the leg of Shaiikov to make it 2-1 with just five seconds remaining in the second period. Porter Martone also assisted on the play as part of a two-point game.
Meanwhile, feisty Noah Powell was ready to pick some battles and get some attention. After an opponent declined an invitation in the first period, Powell found a willing combatant in the second period when he dropped the gloves with Jackson Dorrington. Powell’s jersey was torn in the fray and he came back out with a new number in short order and gave his props to the equipment staff at the ready. Powell expressed his interest in becoming as tough a player as he could this season after getting a taste of AHL action upon joining the Phantoms from Arizona State. Powell dumped a player into the bench in Game 1, got into a fight after that game, and then dropped the gloves again in Game 2.
Powell blocked a shot late in the game and scored a long empty-netter from the Flyers’ zone with 1:55 left. Maksim Sokolovskii won a puck and found Barkey rushing up ice who flipped it to his right for Martone’s empty-netter with 47 seconds remaining to conclude the 4-1 win and the opening weekend of hockey at PPL Center.
The Philadelphia Flyers now head to Voorhees, NJ for the conclusion of Rookie Camp and then the beginning of Flyers’ Training Camp.
The first day of Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ Training Camp begins on Tuesday, September 22 with the team’s initial practice although some players will still be in Voorhees competing for spots with the Flyers.
The Phantoms begin the preseason on Friday, September 25 with an away game at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Lehigh Valley has a pair of home preseason games on Saturday, September 26 against the Hershey Bears and Tuesday, September 29 against the Penguins.
Opening Night for the Phantoms is Saturday, October 3 against many of this weekend’s New York Rangers’ prospects with the Hartford Wolf Pack coming to town to commence the 13th season of Phantoms hockey in the Valley. The team’s annual Opening Night celebration will feature Rally Towels to energize a fired up crowd as well as 2026-27 season schedule posters.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
