Matvei Michkov is making a habit of changing the tone of Flyers games all by himself.
The rookie winger scored twice Monday night, lifting Philadelphia to a 3-2 upset over the Colorado Avalanche and giving the Flyers their second straight win after a brutal 0-9 start to the season. After dropping six in regulation and three more in overtime or shootouts, the Flyers finally found some momentum with a win over Ottawa on Saturday and followed it up by taking down last season’s Presidents’ Trophy winners.
Michkov now leads Philadelphia with six goals. His first came on the power play at 7:41 of the opening period, and his second was a beauty at 12:23 of the second. He circled behind the net, pulled the puck through traffic and ripped a long-range wrist shot that beat Mackenzie Blackwood glove side.
Noel Acciari added the other Flyers goal, his first since joining the team, when he restored a two-goal cushion at 6:34 of the third period.
Joseph Woll earned his first win with Philadelphia by stopping 24 shots. The Flyers got another notable moment earlier in the night when Cole Knuble made his NHL debut for the club he grew up rooting for. Knuble, whose father Mike played for Philadelphia from 2005-09 and again in 2013, logged 13 minutes, 44 seconds of ice time as a 22-year-old right winger.
Colorado still made things interesting late. Martin Necas cut the deficit with 2:08 left in the second period, and rookie T.J. Hughes pulled the Avalanche within one at 14:40 of the third for his second straight game with a goal after scoring for the first time Friday against Pittsburgh.
Blackwood finished with 21 saves for Colorado, which fell to 5-3-1. The Avalanche got goals from Necas and Hughes, but not enough to keep pace with Philadelphia’s early burst and Michkov’s finishing touch.
The Flyers head to Buffalo to face the Sabres on Wednesday. Colorado continues its road swing Tuesday in New Jersey against the Devils.
In Other News...
Flyers Face An Early Test As Buffalo Brings A New Problem
The Flyers arrive in Buffalo with a little momentum after shaking off a slow start and winning two straight, a welcome shift as they head into KeyBank Center for an early-season test. Philadelphias recent uptick has given the group a steadier feel, and the matchup offers another chance to see whether the gains they've made can hold up against a Sabres team that is just coming off a road trip through Canada.
Buffalo also brings a different look this time, with the club expecting one of its top blue-liners back in the lineup after time away. The projected goalies, betting odds and forecast all point to a game that should be tight enough to hinge on the details, which is exactly the sort of spot where Philadelphia can find out whether its recent surge is something more than a short-lived bounce. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers May Have Finally Found A Power Play Fit For Michkov And Zegras
Rick Tocchet has been shuffling the Flyers power-play setup in search of a better fit, and the early signs have been encouraging. The changes have given Matvei Michkov a more natural lane to operate in, and the unit has looked sharper since the coach adjusted the personnel and spacing around him.
The real intrigue is how Trevor Zegras has been used in the mix, with Tocchet trying to unlock more from a group that needed a jolt. Michkovs recent power-play production has helped validate the approach, but the broader question for Philadelphia is whether this alignment can stick once opponents start game-planning for it. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Surge Just Changed Danny Brieres Trade Deadline Pressure
The Flyers spent the early stretch of the season trying to keep their footing while key players were hurt and the results lagged behind the effort. General manager Danny Briere resisted the temptation to force a move during that rough patch, in part because the roster was so banged up and in part because there was little reason to sell off pieces when the team had yet to find any rhythm.
A small surge has changed the tone around the front office, though, and it has added a different kind of pressure. Two straight wins, including one over the Colorado Avalanche, gave the Flyers a little more breathing room and showed younger players can help steady the lineup, which makes Brieres trade-deadline decisions look a lot less straightforward than they did just a short time ago. [Read more 🡒]