Matvei Michkov still hasn’t pulled off a Michigan in an NHL game, but he’s not backing off the move.
The Flyers winger added another lacrosse-style goal to his collection over the weekend in Russia, where he took part in the “Match of the Year” charity game at SKA Arena in Saint Petersburg. Michkov was back among familiar company there, skating alongside NHL names such as Alex Ovechkin, Artemi Panarin, and Mikhail Sergachev.
It was his second straight year in the event, and once again he made it count. Last year, Michkov scored a Michigan in the charity game only days after saying that “one season was enough” for the lacrosse-style finish. This time, he’s taking a different stance.
After the game, Michkov explained how the goal came together.
“It just happened that way,” Michkov said. “The pass came to my backhand, so I had to lift it… and well… that was it.”
He added that the move is still part of his toolkit.
“To be honest, if the situation lets me lift the puck, I’ll give it a shot in practice every now and then,” he continued. “I’ve tried it in games, too, but no luck in the NHL so far.”
The goal itself was a smart finish. Michkov tucked the puck under the goalie’s blocker with the top corner already sealed off.
And unlike last year, he isn’t sounding like a player ready to shelve the attempt. After scoring in Russia, he made his position clear.
“I believe it’s still ahead of me,” he said after hitting the Michigan in Russia. “I’ll keep trying.”
That confidence fits the way he’s spent his summer. Michkov worked with Russian stars leading up to the game, and the Flyers also sent a trainer to Russia for him. He’s been training as much as three times a day and plans to return to the Philadelphia area at some point in August.
Michkov has already shown the move in other settings, too. In November, he appeared to try a Michigan in practice and seemed to hit Dan Vladar in the mask. Then in January, he was seen teaching rookie forward Denver Barkey how to pull one off, and Barkey eventually connected on an attempt.
For Michkov, though, the chase continues. The NHL version hasn’t landed yet, but he’s not hiding from it.
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