Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Flyers brought a ton of energy to the ice tonight in this impressive 3-2 overtime victory against the visiting Boston Bruins. As training camp cuts continue the squad that takes the ice each night is increasingly populated with veteran players. Opposing teams are going through the same process so the level of competition will continue to escalate as the preseason schedule plays out.
Something a bit different tonight. I usually try to collect all the relevant details as the game is going on so that I can include them for you as part the recap. Since we are still in the preseason I wanted to watch an entire game without distractions and get a feel for it as a whole and share my thoughts on what I think stood out the most. I usually try to keep my personal opinions at a reasonable minimum. Not tonight.
Michkov is a lock
There is great value in being accurate and not filling in the blanks until things are official. But let’s face it. Matvei Michkov was the most dynamic player on the ice tonight, hands down. At this point everyone is just being pragmatic discussing his chances of making the team right out of camp. In reality you are not taking about “giving the kid a shot” what you are now discussing is what are the chances that the Flyers would cut one of their top players thus far. Forget about it, it’s over.
Michkov scored two goals tonight one of them being the overtime game winner. He has looked good in all his games so far but tonight could sell him even to the most cautious buyer. He is so crafty and patient with the puck. His passes through traffic are so precise, responsible, and on the tape. So far he has been a big part of the team bringing the power-play back to life. His performance tonight was a joy to watch.
Coots the Enforcer
It became apparent to the Bruins early on that they were going to have to do something to neutralize Michkov. Defense was failing them so they went with intimidation. With Nick Deslauriers and Garnet Hathaway both not in the Flyers line-up the Bruins were blatant in their attempts. Trent Frederic was “rag-dolling” him around. Things came to a head when Billy Sweezey lined Michkov up for a hit in the corner. It was not one of those situations that has become all too familiar where a skirmish breaks out because someone delivered a clean hit.
Sweezy followed up the hit with a series of cross-checks and stick work attempting to keep Michkov from following the puck out of the zone. The Flyers Captain Sean Couturier took it upon himself to put an end to it. He skated in grabbed Billy Sweezey and squared off with him. A full on five-for-fighting scrap that Coots came out on top of. Good on him. Message sent, hands off.
Luchanko needed a good game
The topic of Luchanko possibly making the team out of camp is an honest question that will take more time for everyone to answer. The arguments on both sides are very valid. If the Flyers were “stuck” with him in the line-up right now just as he is they wouldn’t be stuck at all. He is a unique talent. He has his own style of playing the game. He is fast as all get out. His head and his hands can totally keep up with his feet. He has eyes in the back of his head and seems to be aware of his options on the ice at all times. Give him a shot, let him fly.
The flip side is he’s really young. He should be playing every game as the top line center on a lower level team where he can develop his skills even further. Don’t rush it and allow him to get frustrated struggling to stay afloat in the NHL before he is ready. Both of these points are really valid. His next few pre-season games are going to be very telling. I have no idea what the final decision is going to be.
Tonight he had a really solid game. Thursday night against the Islanders he didn’t really stand out per say. Tonight he did. He is being tested by the team. He is out there when the chips are down. He’s holding his own in the faceoff circle. He’s playing a lot of shorthanded minutes.
He’s learning to adjust his timing which you can tell is just a little off. His bag of tricks dominated in development camp. His skill set cut right through rookie camp. Adjusting his unique sense of timing to the NHL game is going to take a little bit of time. How much time is anyone’s guess. Does he need a few more games or one more year? Make no mistake Jett Luchanko is going to be a Flyer, the only question is when.
Ivan Fedotov
Ivan Fedotov had a solid game against the Islanders tonight. He was tested early and often and stood up to the challenge. In case you haven’t noticed, he’s a big guy and when his positioning is on he takes up a lot of room in the net. He stayed square all night and let the pucks come to him. He stopped 25 of 27 shots. The first goal was a redirect and the second was a top shelf laser on a shorthanded breakaway. Fedotov is looking much more like 2022 than the Spring of 2024. We all know the back story at this point. We are starting to get a clearer picture of where things currently stand, which is all that really matters.
The team has been very candid, Ersson will be the starter this season. In order to avoid an overwhelming work load like he took on last year the Flyers need a reliable backup in place. It is a must. Aside from Fedotov and Eetu Makiniemi, Alexei Kolosov was in Voorhees training with the team this morning. He looks like a puck eating machine. His style is really fun to watch.
What else?
Olle Lycksell was a total standout tonight. He was an offensive asset all game long especially on the power-play. He ended the night with two assists and six shots on goal.
Rasmus Ristolainen was a stud. He scored the Flyers first goal and he was a force to recon with at both ends of the ice. He absolutely destroyed Mason Lohrei with a clean but possibly unexpected hit that coincided with the final buzzer at the end of regulation.
Anthony Richard and Hunter McDonald both had some fine moments. The veteran players all looked solid and energized. There was definitely more urgency to the pace of play tonight compared to the previous outing . Everyone stepped it up a bit. The 2024-25 regular season is getting closer by the minute, things are really starting to pull together.
