Matvei Michkov doesn’t turn 20 for a couple of weeks, but he continues to play well above his years for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Fresh off his second overtime goal in the last five games, Michkov leads the Flyers into Monday’s home game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Philadelphia’s first-round pick in 2023, Michkov joined the NHL prior to this season and has made a major impact on the young Flyers. He ranks second on the squad in goals (seven) and assists (nine) and has been earning more playing time under coach John Tortorella.
Michkov scored in overtime Nov. 14 against the Ottawa Senators and turned the trick again Saturday, netting the decisive tally in a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
“There’s not many moments you’re going to get,” Michkov said through an interpreter. “When you get the moment, you have to be cold-blooded and finish it.”
Saturday’s OT goal was particularly notable as it capped a late-game comeback for the Flyers, who trailed 2-0 in the third period. Sean Couturier and Noah Cates scored down the stretch to set the stage for Michkov’s goal off a perfect feed from Travis Konecny.
“We kept our patience,” Tortorella said. “I don’t think we played poorly by any means, but when we’re down 2-0, we had chances, we couldn’t finish. … I appreciate how the guys just stayed together, kept on playing.”
Philadelphia has spent the last month digging out of a 1-5-1 hole to begin the season. The Flyers can get back to .500 with a win Monday in the finale of their five-game homestand.
“We got frustrated at times, but we stuck together and stuck to the same style of play,” Couturier said. “We came back, showed some character in the third and capitalized on our chances and found a way to get the two points.”
Vegas earned two points in its most recent contest, as well, riding a five-goal second period to a 6-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Ivan Barbashev and Jack Eichel each registered a goal and two assists for the Knights, who have been consistently up-and-down over the last 10 games.
During that stretch, the team has won two in a row, lost two consecutive games, then won two straight before losing two straight and then winning two in a row again. That inconsistency was on display against the Canadiens, as the Knights dominated the second period before allowing two goals in a third period that disappointed coach Bruce Cassidy.
“Let’s face it, in the third period we got off our game, they pushed us,” Cassidy said. “I know it’s late, but at the end of the day, good on (the Canadiens) to make a play.”
Still, Vegas finished with its highest goal total since scoring seven times Oct. 26 against the San Jose Sharks.
“It’s just our style of play,” forward Keegan Kolesar said. “We wear teams down. We were able to capitalize on a couple of mistakes they made and we sent our nose to the net. … That results in some goals for us.”
The Flyers and Knights have split 12 all-time meetings. The teams will meet again in Las Vegas on Jan. 2.
–Field Level Media
