EDMONTON — Tuesday’s morning skate had been over for some time, but there they sat directly next to one another in the visitor’s dressing room at Rogers Place: Matvei Michkov, to his left Morgan Frost, and to Frost’s left Travis Konecny.
A language barrier still exists between the Russian native and the two Canadians, both of whom Michkov has played with on a line. But when that language is hockey, they can still evidently manage zealous conversation.
There’s even some humor mixed in. Seemingly talking about trying to deflect pucks in front of the net, something that coach John Tortorella has focused on the last few practices, Michkov stood up, faced his two teammates, and held an imaginary stick in front of him.
“I score, I score,” Michkov said. “T.K. pass, over here,” he continued, holding his hand well behind him, out of range.
Laughter followed.
Later on Tuesday night, there was jubilation.
Michkov scored the first two goals of his career — the first two of the game, both on the power play in the first period — in helping the Flyers earn a difficult road point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Oilers, moving them to 1-1-1 on the season. Frost assisted on both, including the first which Michkov jammed through Stuart Skinner’s left pad from behind the net, while Konecny helped set up the second with a patient and exact feed in the offensive zone to Owen Tippett, who then found Michkov for a tough angle one-timer at the bottom of the circle that beat Skinner to the short side.
“He’s been talking about it; all he says is, ‘I score, I score,’” Frost said. “Sometimes the language barrier can make it a little humorous. He’s a passionate kid and wants to win, wants to score.”
“I think as a new guy coming in, big spotlight on him, that’s what’s kind of drawn his teammates to him,” coach John Tortorella said of rookie Matvei Michkov. (Amber Bracken / The Canadian Press via Associated Press)
After the first goal, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch challenged for goalie interference, delaying it from becoming official. When it was, Michkov gave an emphatic fist pump before he was mobbed on the bench by his teammates who were within range. Garnet Hathaway, seated next to Michkov, promptly circled him with a right arm and gave him a couple of slightly violent but loving shakes.
“You could see how excited he was,” Hathaway said. “It’s infectious too, right? And he brings it every day.”
In a room in which the Flyers value hard work above all else — they have to if they’re going to stay in games, particularly 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 pair of goals, they noticed he was out there playing hard in other areas of the ice, too. Michkov was credited with a pair of blocked shots, including one on Mattias Ekholm with 4:09 to go in the third period with the Flyers still clinging to a 3-2 lead before Evan Bouchard forced overtime.
“His skill is what is going to lead him, plus his compete,” Hathaway said. “It’s nice to see him rewarded. … Are you getting chances, are you creating, and are you responsible in your own zone? I think he’s checking all those boxes.”
Said Tortorella: “He’s a dynamic player. … He’s out there blocking shots, also. Doing all the other stuff that creates 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 for the past three seasons, the Flyers are off to a 4-for-15 start through three games. Michkov has factored into three of those, with his two goals on Tuesday and an assist in Calgary on Saturday.
The Flyers scored multiple power-play goals in a game last season just four times in 82 games. They didn’t have anyone score two power-play goals in the same game. Michkov did it in his third career game.
“I think we’re kind of starting to build something,” said Frost, part of Michkov’s power-play unit with Konecny, Tippett and Jamie Drysdale. “We’re really close to setting it in stone. I think you can see some of the stuff out there. We’re still just a little late on some decisions and details, but we’re making some good plays and getting more chances than in the past. Hopefully, we keep building on that.”
Said Konecny: “There’s some great signs of what (Michkov is) able to do.”
Capping off a hat trick in overtime would have been the perfect ending, of course. Instead, Michkov was on the ice during the three-on-three when Travis Sanheim went crashing into the corner boards, resulting in a Connor McDavid breakaway the other way. McDavid didn’t score on the attempt, but stayed with the puck and fed Leon Draisaitl in the slot for the game-winner.
While it was the Oilers’ first win in four tries, no one expects them to stay near the bottom of the league standings for long. Tortorella was pleased with the game, which had little flow with 11 minor penalties.
“I liked our game. How many penalties were being called, and some non-calls, you weren’t sure where the game was going to go,” he said. “But we kept our concentration, and played.”
Said Frost: “I thought we played a pretty good game overall. Guys were sacrificing their body. We did a lot of the little things right. I thought we shut down those top guys pretty well.”
The Flyers have one more game on their season-opening four-game road trip on Thursday in Seattle. Home fans will finally get a chance to welcome Michkov on Saturday in the home opener against Vancouver.
MATVEI MICHKOV’S FIRST NHL GOAL. THE BOYS ARE ECSTATIC.#LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/IIgYqjMPGq
— Flyers Clips (@Flyers_Clips) October 16, 2024
It’s a given that Michkov will be welcomed at Wells Fargo Center with a raucous ovation during player introductions. But that welcome may pale in comparison to how some of his teammates already feel about him.
“He likes to score. He’s in the (hard) areas,” Tortorella said. “I think as a new guy coming in, big spotlight on him, that’s what’s kind of drawn 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 first-period power-play goals against Edmonton: Amber Bracken / The Canadian Press via Associated Press)
