Matvei Michkov scores first two goals of his career in Flyers loss OT: “I score, I score”

EDMONTON – Tuesday’s morning skate had been over for some time, but there they were, sitting right next to each other in the visitors’ locker room at Rogers Place: Matvei Michkov, to his left Morgan Frost and to Frost’s left Travis Konecny.

There is still a language barrier between the Russian native and the two Canadians, both of whom Michkov played on the same line. But if that language is hockey, they can obviously still have eager conversations.

There’s even some humor there. Seemingly talking about blocking pucks in front of the net, something coach John Tortorella had focused on in recent practices, Michkov stood up, looked at his two teammates and held an imaginary stick in front of him.

“I score, I score,” said Michkov. “TK pass, over here,” he continued, holding his hand far behind him, out of reach.

Laughter followed.

There was jubilation later Tuesday evening.

Michkov scored the first two goals of his career – the first two of the game, both on the power play in the first period – to help the Flyers take the lead in a difficult road point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers to 1-1-1 this season. Frost set up both, including the first, which Michkov rammed through Stuart Skinner’s left defense from behind the net, while Konecny ​​​​helped set up the second attack with patience and precision in the offensive zone to Owen Tippett, who then set up Michkov for one A difficult corner was served by Timer at the bottom of the circle, which beat Skinner to the short side.

“He talked about it; He just says, ‘I score, I score,'” Frost said. “Sometimes the language barrier can make it a bit strange. He’s a passionate boy and wants to win, wants to score.”

“I think when a freshman came into the game and there was a lot of attention on him, that kind of drew his teammates to him,” coach John Tortorella said of freshman Matvei Michkov. (Amber Bracken/The Canadian Press via Associated Press)

After the first goal, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch called for goalie interference, delaying it from becoming official. When the time came, Michkov delivered a forceful punch before being mobbed on the bench by his teammates who were within reach. Garnet Hathaway, who was sitting next to Michkov, immediately circled him with her right arm and shook him a few times, slightly violently but lovingly.

“You could see how excited he was,” Hathaway said. “It’s contagious too, right? And he brings it every day.”

In a room where the Flyers value hard work above all else – which is what they need to do if they want to stay in games, especially against teams like Edmonton – Michkov has fit right in.

Hathaway, Konecny ​​​​and Tortorella all mentioned after the game that while they were impressed and pleased with Michkov’s two goals, they noticed that he also played hard in other areas of the ice. Michkov was credited with two blocked shots, including one against Mattias Ekholm with 4:09 left in the third period as the Flyers still clung to a 3-2 lead before Evan Bouchard forced overtime.

“His ability will guide him, as will his competition,” Hathaway said. “It’s nice to see him rewarded. …Are you given opportunities, are you creative and are you responsible in your own area? I think he ticks all those boxes.”

Tortorella said: “He is a dynamic player. … He’s also out there blocking shots. Doing all the other things that create that team camaraderie, that team concept. So that’s really important.”

Still, it’s Michkov’s work on the power play that is most welcome. After finishing last in the league the last three seasons, the Flyers are off to a 4-for-15 start in three games. Michkov factored in three of them with his two goals on Tuesday and an assist in Calgary on Saturday.

The Flyers only scored multiple power play goals in a game four times in 82 games last season, and no one scored two power play goals in the same game. Michkov did it in his third career game.

“I think we’re just starting to build something,” said Frost, part of Michkov’s power-play unit with Konecny, Tippett and Jamie Drysdale. “We are close to setting it in stone. I think you can see some of that out there. We’re a little late on some decisions and details, but we’re making some good plays and creating more chances than in the past. Hopefully we continue to build on it.”

Konecny ​​​​said: “There are some great signs of what (Michkov) is capable of.”

A hat-trick in extra time would of course have been the perfect ending. Instead, Michkov was on the ice during the three-on-three duel when Travis Sanheim crashed into the corner boards, causing Connor McDavid to break out the other way. McDavid didn’t score on the attempt, but he stayed with the puck and put Leon Draisaitl in the slot for the game-winner.

Although it was the Oilers’ first win in four tries, no one expects them to stay at the bottom of the league for long. Tortorella was happy with the game, which had little flow with eleven minor penalties.

“I liked our game. The amount of penalties that were given and some that weren’t, you weren’t sure how the game was going to turn out,” he said. “But we stayed focused and played.”

Frost said: “I think we played a pretty good game overall. Boys sacrificed their bodies. We did a lot of little things right. I thought we took out those top guys pretty well.”

The Flyers have one more game on their four-game season-opening road trip on Thursday in Seattle. Home fans will finally get the chance to greet Michkov in Saturday’s home opener against Vancouver.

MATVEI MICHKOV’S FIRST NHL GOAL. The boys are thrilled.#LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/IIgYqjMPGq

— Flyer Clips (@Flyers_Clips) October 16, 2024

It goes without saying that Michkov will be greeted with loud applause at the player introduction at the Wells Fargo Center. But that reception may pale in comparison to how some of his teammates already feel about him.

“He likes to score. He’s in the (difficult) areas,” Tortorella said. “I think when a freshman gets put in the spotlight, that’s what kind of attracted his teammates to him.”

“I think we’re having fun,” Frost said, “and hopefully he’s having fun being here.”

(Top photo of Matvei Michkov reacting to one of his two power play goals in the first period against Edmonton: Amber Bracken / The Canadian Press via Associated Press)