Barring any unforeseen hiccups or injuries, it would be a good guess to believe Flyers rookie winger Matvei Michkov will appear in a handful of preseason games (possibly the first against Washington on Sept. 22) but will no doubt take to the ice when the Flyers begin the 2024-25 regular season Oct. 11 in Vancouver. But one has to be a genius, clairvoyant or both to figure out when some of his firsts will take place.
Well thanks to Broadstreethockey, there are such people who can accurately guess when several of Michkov’s firsts will take place this season. Unfortunately I’m not one of those. But I can try. Here then in no particular order are 39 firsts that Matvei Michkov could experience this year (and hopefully in his Flyers career).
1) First Game
Well, it would appear that Oct. 11 against the Canucks would be the most logical answer. Of course if Michkov complains about the life-altering bag skate Tortorella is known for to start training camp, he could be a healthy scratch to start the season. But more likely than not both the player and the coach shouldn’t get off to such a rocky start that the season gets off on the wrong foot. So let’s go with the season opener in Vancouver.
2) First Goal
It would be a stretch but also amazing if Michkov somehow matched Auston Matthews’ NHL debut in 2016 when he scored four goals. However it’s more likely that Michkov could get a few good scoring chances in his opener based on being a bundle of nerves and having that extra jump being in the big leagues. The optimist in me says Michkov will get his first NHL goal in his first NHL game at even strength, perhaps in the second period when line changes are more problematic for defensemen and the rookie can strut his stuff against Thatcher Demko.
3) First Assist
Michkov’s playmaking skills may emerge quicker in the NHL than anticipated depending on who his linemates might be. Knowing there’s talent at center and on the opposite wing could make his own talent visible much sooner than later. Look for his first NHL assist to be another even-strength point when in game two, the second of their opening back-to-back slate of games in Calgary, Michkov feeds a nice pass to Sean Couturier who buries his first of the year against the Flames.
4) First Hat Trick and 5) First Star of the Game
After the opening road trip, the Flyers should be eager to get back home and either try and right the ship after some formidable West Coast opponents or ride a bit of momentum coming back for their (and Michkov’s) home opener Oct. 19 against Vancouver. But Michkov might get his first NHL hat trick against Washington on Oct. 22 against Ovechkin and the somewhat revamped lineup. Playing against his countryman still chasing the NHL goal-scoring record, Michkov could be jacked for this game and come out firing. Seeing him skate around (or under) Tom Wilson and the still aging Capitals roster as Mad Russian ball caps litter the Wells Fargo Center ice surface would be sweet.
6) Power Play Goal
One hopes that at some point this season, given how ridicously rotten the power play was last seaon, Michkov scores a power play goal over 82 games. The Flyers most likely won’t hit the ground running on the power play and it will take some time to show some semblance of improvement. But Michkov should probably get one power play goal in his first road trip with the last of the four West Coast games in Seattle on Oct. 17. Here he nets his (and hopefully not the team’s) first power play goal of the year, a goal featuring quick accurate passing and the Flyers crashing the net for a rebound.
7) Power Play Assist
Michkov’s power play role depends on how Tortorella uses him with the man advantage. Obviously if he’s on the first unit with the likes of Owen Tippett, Morgan Frost and a mobile defenseman in Jamie Drysdale, Michkov’s deft passing could make him end up with a decent but not jaw-dropping amount of production a man up. The rookie’s first power play assist will come during the team’s opening home game against Vancouver on Oct. 19 on a one timer from Owen Tippett.
8) Short Handed Goal
It’s highly unlikely Michkov sees a lot of time on one of the short handed units, at least in the opening portion of the season. Given the success Scott Laughton and Travis Konecny had let them do it. And as much as Tortorella loves players blocking shots, it would be barmy to see Michkov limping off the ice after blocking a shot off his foot or ankle and out for an extended period of time. Look for a possible match against San Jose on Nov. 11 for Michkov to end up with a short handed goal by extending his shift, ragging the puck trying to kill some time before going up the ice and putting home a shortie.
9) Short-Handed Assist
Much like what was discussed just above, look for Michkov’s minutes killing a penalty to be few and far between. He might get one against St. Louis on Halloween evening at home. Stranger things have happened but look for a long stretch pass to Konecny or Laughton in transition for his first short handed assist of his career.
10) Game-Tying Goal
Michkov will put the Flyers back on level ground with a game-tying goal late in the third period when the Flyers play on the road on Nov. 9 against the defending Stanley Cup champions Florida Panthers. Think of Garnet Hathaway’s game-winning goal against Florida on the road last year minus the 15 broken hockey sticks on the ice and you’ll get the idea of how it’ll come to pass.
11) Go-Ahead Goal
With any luck and good fortune the phrase “go-ahead goal” will go almost hand in hand with Matvei Michkov’s name. The Flyers afternoon game against Minnesota on Oct. 26 will be the first time Michkov gives Philadelphia the lead with the game’s opening goal against the Wild’s Marc-Andre Fleury.
12) Game-Winning Goal and 13) Overtime Goal
Two firsts at once? Of course it’s possible! Michkov by mid-November should be adjusting to the newness of the NHL a little better with six weeks under his belt. Although he’ll make mistakes, he should also put the team on his shoulders occasionally simply through his need to win. While it won’t come against the upper echeleon of teams look for the Flyers to defeat the Senators on Nov. 14 with Michkov skating circles around a tired Senators trio of skaters before putting in the winner. Hopefully Nic Deslauriers and Nick Seeler aren’t the first two skaters to celebrate his goal and jump on top of him.
14) Shootout Goal
As the Flyers roll with the punches 82 games throws at them, Michkov’s talent may be seen in spurts. He’ll have a few games where he’s on top of the world but then other nights he’ll look out of sorts. He is 19 years old after all and will be watched and judged mercilessly from fans and media. The Flyers last season always rose to the occasion against great teams and this year might be similar. A loser point would be fair in a home game against Colorado on Nov. 18. An overtime that decides nothing. In the shootout Michkov shows some ridiculous dekes and stick handling, making the goalie look foolish.
15) Penalty Shot Goal
An early Christmas present for Flyers fans could be when Philadelphia plays the Penguins on Dec. 23, the last game before the Christmas break. It will also be the first meeting between the rivals of the season and Michkov’s first taste of what used to be a deep-seeded animosity between the clubs. Michkov shouldn’t be in awe of Malkin or Crosby and should be able to beat Kris Letang or Karlsson by getting in behind them for a breakaway chance. Dragged down and with the penalty shot award, Michkov should put one in or at the very least not push the puck a sixteenth of an inch like Brad Marchand did once.
16) First Fight and 17) Fighting Major
He’s being paid for his talent, not to bust a knuckle on a eye shield or break a bone in his hand on a helmet. But Michkov’s temper might make an already possible colorful season more intriguing. Despite the one-sided feud Montreal fans have with the Flyers currently about Michkov, look for a guy like Brendan Gallagher to needle Michkov on Oct. 27 to the point where the pair drop the gloves and throw a few before officials break it up.
18) Benching
Matvei Michkov’s play is sure to cause some highlights and also some growing pains in his rookie season. How he handles or doesn’t handle the pressure of the spotlight could determine just how long of a leash he might have under John Tortorella. Given Tortorella’s history it won’t be a long leash. And knowing how he’s treated veterans like Konecny and Couturier it won’t be a shock to see him throw down the hammer on Michkov. If the Flyers look lost after the annual West Coast post-Christmas trek and Michkov is hitting a wall, look for Tortorella to bench him in Toronto on Jan. 5. Where else to bench a dynamic rookie than in the so-called center of the hockey universe?
19) Healthy Scratch
It’s unclear just how this might happen or when it might happen. If it does happen though it will make Couturier’s scratching look tame by comparison. If he was benched against Toronto on Jan. 5 and given the chance to redeem himself the next game, there might not be a healthy scratch this season. Should Michkov come away from the benching looking no better in Tortorella’s eyes then he’ll be in the pressbox on Jan. 9 against Dallas. The biggest difference with this scratching would be how abrupt Michkov would be approaching the head coach. Although a translator might not be needed with the exchange of four-letter and six-letter words between the two behind closed doors, both sides should come out of the arguement on the same page. Don’t expect 11 healthy scratches before Michkov blows his stack.
20) Screed From Tortorella
Tortorella’s first tirade on Michkov will probably be early in the year. By early I mean within the first three games. The Edmonton game on Oct. 15 is a possibility. If McDavid and Draisatl are in the mood to simply ramp their game up then it’s lights out for the Flyers. Look for Michkov to perhaps look a little bit lost and mistaken-prone if he’s on the ice against two of the biggest superstars in the league. It’s doubtful that it will be a long screed but it will be enough for Michkov to know he screwed up, even without the need of a translator.
21) Michigan Goal
Michkov’s benching in Dallas will be one and done. The first game back will be in Philadelphia against Anaheim. Knowing the hype and anticipation for this game dating back to William Gauthier’s trade out of the Flyers organization, look for Michkov to deliver a little bit of cold vegeance against the Ducks by out-Zegras-ing the opposition and scoring a Michigan against them. The celebration post-scratching will be entertaining as the Flyers forward will give his own version of a one-finger salute to Tortorella.
22) Minor Penalty
This one will be one of the quicker firsts of the season. A tired Michkov trying on a longer-than-expected shift will probably hook or hold some opponent in one of the West Coast games to start the season so let’s go with the Seattle contest on Oct. 17, the last of the four before heading back home.
23) Major Penalty and 24) Game Misconduct
The Nov. 23 game against the Bedard-led Chicago Blackhawks and the Michkov-led Flyers will be hyped quite a bit as it arguably features the two best players that were drafted in 2023. As it happens though the hype sometimes has no subtance. And this game could be one of those. Maybe an accidental high sticking penalty on Michkov causing a cut would make the head-to-head battle an afterthought as he’s tossed automatically.
25) Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalty and 26) Breaking A Stick
A two-goal swing will perhaps be what causes Michkov to smash his stick to smithereens against the Utah Hockey Club on Feb. 4. A prime scoring chance denied on one end to tie the game only to see Utah score to put them up by two late in the second period could be enough for Michkov to snap.
27) Third Star of the Game
October 19, the home opener against Vancouver. Michkov has to show up and look like he’s competing in order to get the warm applause from a fanbase who has waited for this moment for at least 16 months. In some respects they’ve waited since Eric Lindros for this moment.
28) Second Star of the Game
Michkov will have a very good game against Columbus on Jan. 14 where he’ll have two points and look like the player the Flyers envision him to be in the future.
29) Gordie Howe Hat Trick
The fight mentioned against Brendan Gallagher a while back will mark Michkov’s first fisticuffs but also be part of his first Gordie Howe Hat Trick. Look for him to score a goal sometime after the fight while his assist will take place early in the game on the power play. Look for it to be the first and hopefully only Gordie Howe Hat Trick of the season.
30) Multi-Goal Game
Michkov’s first hat trick will precede his first multi-goal game when he puts two in the net against Seattle on Oct. 17. The goals might not be highlight reel but should make Michkov feel a bit more settled in and part of the team. Much like the hat trick it’s also a certainty that multi-goal games won’t be plentiful in his first season.
31) Multi-Point Game
With a goal and an assist in his first NHL game against the Canucks Michkov will for this night live up to the hype and make Flyers fans believe that he can deliver the goods when the time comes down the road. Of course this will lead some on Twitter to calculate a 164 point pace for him and anything less than that makes his selection a complete bust. “Buyout his contract NOW,” some will argue.
32) Empty Net Goal
It will take a while because it’s doubtful Tortorella puts Michkov on the ice with the Flyers up a goal and trying to protect a lead through solid defensive coverage. However one could predict that the away game versus the New York Islanders on Jan. 24 could see him on the ice with over three minutes left and the Islanders pulling their goaltender earlier than usual. It won’t be the prettiest goal he scores all year (at least we hope not) but they all count.
33) Star of the Week Honors and 34) Five-Game Multi-Point Streak
The Star of the Week Honors will be the first week of March when Michkov comes off the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off with a four-game point streak. Toss in the game just before the two-week break against Pittsburgh and he’ll have his five-game point streak, the extra feather in his Ushanka (Russian fur hat) being three of the five games were against the Penguins. Of course if McDavid or Matthews or Crosby have decent weeks then we probably know how that selection progress will turn out.
35) Rookie All Star Team Selection
The rookie all star team selection will take place probably long after Michkov finishes his 2024-25 season. This past year’s team was announced in late June with Tyson Foerster in fourth place among eligible forwards but far behind votes collected for Bedard, Minnesota’s Marco Rossi, and Logan Cooley of the now defunct Arizona Coyotes. Michkov should be a strong candidate to earn one of the three forward spots but nothing is written in stone.
36) Calder Trophy Nomination
Using last season as a measuring stick, the Calder Trophy nominees will be announced at the end of April. As much as Michkov and the Flyers would love to be still playing at that time of year, a lot of ducks have to fall in a row for it to happen. Nonetheless, expect Michkov (barring injuries or a complete implosion of confidence) to be one of the three nominees for the Calder Trophy when they are announced late April, 2025.
37) Playoff Goal
The goal for the Mad Russian is to play in game eighty-three and beyond this season. But we’ll see what transpires over the first 82 and go from there. If the Flyers can make the playoffs this season, it would almost be with some major contributions from Michkov, Konecny, Foerster, Tippett and especially Frost and Couturier. Not to mention the goaltending being solid and consistent. If they did, it would be great to see Michkov scoring a goal in the Flyers’ first home game in the playoffs since….the invention of the wheel? No, since 2018.
38) Goal In The Stanley Cup Finals
Not this season. Let’s be optimistic but also realistic people. Please.
39) Stanley Cup
See above. But let’s hope there is one (or a few) for Michkov in his hopefully highly productive career as a Philadelphia Flyer.
