‘Special player’ Michkov lives up to hype in Flyers’ rookie game shootout loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Matvei Michkov called to the fans and banged the glass in celebration.
The 19-year-old top prospect had just dangled the puck around the Rangers’ goalie in tight for a 5-on-3 power play goal during the second period Friday night.
And he soaked up the crowd’s reaction.
Michkov brought the fans out of their seats at PPL Center, looking as advertised in his first game action wearing orange and black. The Flyers’ prospects took a 4-3 shootout loss to the Rangers’ prospects in the first of two rookie games this weekend at the home of AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley.
The Flyers grabbed their only lead at 2-1 on Michkov’s goal. With the Flyers’ net emptied and 14.4 seconds left in regulation, Massimo Rizzo forced overtime.
Only the Rangers’ Brennan Othmann scored in the skills competition. Michkov, J.R. Avon and Jett Luchanko were denied for the Flyers.
• The Flyers’ front office brass and coaching staff watched the game upstairs in the management suite. They had to be giddy about what they saw from Michkov.
What stood out most was how he embraced being double shifted by Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere in the third period. Michkov was at his best when the game got later and tougher.
“He’s a special player and you can tell,” Laperriere, who runs the Flyers’ rookie camp, said.
At one point in the third period, Michkov lived with the puck behind the net, fending off a defenseman and then showing his creativity.
“Everybody likes to play a lot, but he’s in great shape, so he can handle it,” Laperriere said. “He made plays on the power play, 5-on-5, plays out of nothing. That’s a special gift that he has got.
“Just having him on the bench, it’s fun because you can tell he loves the game. He wants to be out there and he was out there quite a bit.”
On Michkov’s power play goal, Rizzo found Luchanko, who quickly fed the Russian winger on the doorstep. With little space, Michkov and his hands went to work. He found a way to squeeze the puck past Rangers netminder Dylan Garand.
“He’s 19 years old, we can’t forget,” Laperriere said. “I know there’s a huge buzz around him — around the league, not only in Philly. But he handles it great.”
Michkov’s mother Maria and his younger brother Prohor attended the game with Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula.
“I’m happy because my family could see my first goal,” Michkov said with Zamula as his translator….