Hockey Is Back — Bump’s Third Lifts Flyers 3-2

Flyers Win Rookie Series Opener 3-2

September 12, 2026

Allentown, PA – Hockey made its triumphant return to downtown Allentown in the form the fifth annual NHL Rookie Series and a boisterous Saturday night contingent delighted in Alex Bump’s performance leading the way to a 3-2 win for the Orange and Black.

BOX SCORE

Bump rocked home the game-winning goal early in the third period on a speedy rush from Jett Luchanko who showed some nifty hands before handing off the biscuit to his linemate. Luchanko and Bump both have NHL experience and were expected to be leaders on this squad of prospects and rookie talent. They were flying and in control on a line with Cole Knuble, who also scored for the Flyers, while his father, former Philadelphia Flyer Mike Knuble, watched from the seats.

Carson Bjarnason was at his best when he had to be with 12 of his 27 total saves coming during a frenetic third-period push from the Baby Blue Shirts. Bjarnason was perfect at 5-on-5 and was only beat by a pair of power-play strikes.

While Bump and Luchanko as well as big first-rounder Maksim Sokolovskii were drawing much of the attention, several other stars sat out. Denver Barkey, Oliver bonk and Porter Martone are all expected to be in the lineup for the rematch on Sunday at 5:05 p.m.

The Flyers improved to 5-3-1 all-time in the Rookie Series and also 13-5-3 in Rookie Games since the debut in 2007 in Voorhees, NJ against Washington. The Flyers in Allentown improved to 8-3-3 all-time via a combination of preseason games and Rookie Series contests. The weekend marked the 11th all-time occasion for PPL Center to host the NHL and Philadelphia Flyers.

Matthew Gard got the scoring started early on a smooth dish from Noah Powell. The Flyers second-rounder out of Red Deer in the WHL buried the first of his several snipe attempts to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead at 4:23 into the contest.

New York equalized on the power play with a net-front deflection by Dylan Rooebreak at 15:20 off a drive by Liam Greentree.

Bump chased down a centering pass that glanced off his stick and found himself with a little space along the right boards to connect with the onrushing Knuble at 16:41 into the second period on a strong play to make it 2-1.

As nice as that goal was, the next one to open the third period was probably even better. Jett Luchanko turned on the Jett’s and pulled the puck around a defender to set up a quick odd-man scenario leading to the open Bump from the left circle finding the opportunity to rifle one past the glove of goaltender Callum Tung for a 3-1 lead.

But a Rangers power-play snipe from Nathan Aspinal at the left circle to the far-post less then a minute later cut the margin to 3-2.

Bjarnason was excellent from there, repelling several close-range chances to preserve a one-goal margin to the final horn. The fireworks weren’t over, though. Noah Powell had delivered a big hit, dumping a Rangers’ player into the bench earlier in the game and the bad blood carried over into an after-game scrum with Powell and Murchison both finding fighting partners while Spencer Gill was also feisty and looking for action. Look for the mutual distaste to carry over into Sunday’s rematch at PPL Center.