European figure skating championships carry on, overshadowed by deadly mid-air collision in US

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — The European figure skating championships carried on Thursday, even as the skating world mourned athletes who died when an American Airlines jet collided with an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C.

The competition paused for a moment of silence before the free skate in the pairs event and a message of condolence delivered on behalf of International Skating Union President Jae Youl Kim, who was traveling to the competition Thursday.

“Today, the world of figure skating is heartbroken," ISU representative Gyorgy Elek told the crowd on Kim's behalf.

"We share our deepest, most sincere condolences with the families and friends of all those who lost their lives in this terrible crash. To lose so many members of our community in this way brings sadness beyond words.”

Despite the circumstances, there were still plenty of cheers from the crowd as Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin won their first European title in pairs skating.

They extended their lead from Wednesday's short program despite an early mistake by Hase on a jump combination, finishing on a score of 212.89 points to win by 5.59 from Italy's Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii.

Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava of Georgia, silver medalists last year, recovered from ninth in the short program to finish third overall.

Last year’s European champions Lucrezia Beccari and Matteo Guarise of Italy weren't defending their title because of a season-ending foot injury for Beccari.

Earlier, the second day of the competition began with the men's short program Thursday afternoon, even as news continued to develop about the skaters, parents and coaches on board the American Airlines flight.

France's Adam Siao Him Fa took the lead as he aims for a third European title in a row. He landed a quadruple toeloop-triple toeloop combination, a quad salchow and a triple axel on his way to a score of 93.12 points.

On his Instagram page, Siao reposted a message of condolences from the French skating federation.

Nika Egadze of Georgia was second on 91.94 and Vladimir Samoilov of Poland is third on 85.98.

The men's free skate is Saturday.

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Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany perform in the pairs free skating during the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Pairs gold medalist Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany, centre, silver medalists Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii of Italy, left, and bronze medalist Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava of Georgia pose with their medals during the victory ceremony for pairs short program competition at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Spectators observe a moment of silence for the DC aircraft crash victims, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Spectators observe a moment of silence for the DC aircraft crash victims, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Nike Egadze of Georgia performs during the men's short program at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Adam Siao Him Fa of France performs during the men's short program at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Adam Siao Him Fa of France performs during the men's short program at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Porter Martone capped a fantastic first week in the NHL with a power-play goal to put the Philadelphia Flyers even closer toward ending a miserable playoff drought with a 2-1 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Martone — who just wrapped his season at Michigan State — is just the boost the Flyers needed down the stretch to earn that coveted playoff spot. His first career NHL goal in his fourth game put the Flyers into third place in the Metropolitan Division with five games left for them this season.

Flyers fans erupted when Martone capitalized on the 5-on-3 advantage — courtesy of a hook and a high stick — with 2:29 left in OT. Martone became the first player in Flyers history to score his first NHL goal in overtime.

The Flyers needed this win to get in Eastern Conference playoff position for the first time since Jan. 12.

The Bruins tied the score 1-1 only 35 seconds into the third period when Pavel Zacha knocked one past Dan Vladar on the power play for his 29th goal of the season.

Christian Dvorak took a perfect touch pass from Martone, the Flyers' 2025 first-round draft pick, and finished a 2-on-1 with a wrister past Joonas Korpisalo for the early 1-0 lead. Still buzzing from the early goal, Flyers fans erupted only moments later when Travis Konecny and Boston’s Charlie McAvoy briefly scrapped near the net.

The Flyers are playing meaningful hockey in the final week of the season for one of the few times over the past 15 seasons. Chicago beat Philadelphia in 2010 for the Stanley Cup, and the Flyers never recovered, winning only three playoff series since and they haven't made it all since 2020 in the bubble format. The Flyers haven't played a home playoff series since 2018.

The Bruins are safe in a playoff spot down the stretch while the Flyers play five pivotal games — the next three on the road, the final two at home — that will decide their postseason fate.

Bruins: Play Tuesday at Carolina.

Flyers: Play Tuesday at New Jersey.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Philadelphia Flyers center Christian Dvorak (22) celebrates his goal with right wing Travis Konecny (11) and right wing Porter Martone (94) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Philadelphia Flyers right wing Porter Martone (94) skates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)