Matvei Michkov has injected a new level of talent and flash into the Flyers that Philadelphia hasn’t seen in quite a while. He’s exceeded expectations as a nearly-point-per-game player through his first 28 NHL contests and has made it look pretty.
Michkov showed off some of that flash in the preseason and earlier in the season with several Michigan goal attempts while also firing shots and flip passes from behind the goal line. It had been a while since he pulled out his bag of tricks, but he nearly pulled off his first Michigan goal in the NHL on Thursday night.
MICHKOV ALMOST PULLED OFF A MICHIGAN pic.twitter.com/KyQXo949BN
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) December 13, 2024
While it was his first attempt in quite some time, it was perhaps his best try as he came within inches of dunking on former Flyers goaltender Cam Talbot.
Of course, Flyers head coach John Tortorella has made it known that he’s not exactly a fan of the Michigan or even some of the flashier play in today’s NHL. He was asked about Michkov’s Michigan attempt at Friday’s practice and gave quite the answer via Kevin Kurz:
“Yeah, I’ve lost the battle, right? I don’t think it should be in our game, but I’ve lost that battle. I have talked to him early in the year when he was doing it every game. It was just turnovers. The thing I want (Michkov) to understand is he’s such a good player moving a puck and passing a puck, when he’s behind the net, he’s dangerous to make plays. What am I going to do, say don’t do it? What I did was I said ‘you need to understand that there are other plays to be made there too.’ because a number of the times he tried it early in the year, all they were were turnovers. So yeah, I’ve lost the damn battle with that. I’m not going to try to fight it… I don’t think it should be in our game, but it is what it is.”
Tortorella may have lost the battle, but I can’t wait to see the look on his face the first time Michkov successfully pulls off a Michigan goal.
And to make things even better, before Tortorella spoke with the media on Friday, Michkov was seen practicing Michigan goals several times on an empty net before Flyers practice even started. Maybe that’s what made Tortorella just throw his hands up and give in to the trend of the lacrosse goal.
