Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny are becoming the next great Duo in the NHL. They are just tearing it up together as of late, “He’s a really good kid,” Travis Konecny said of Matvei Michkov this past Monday night. “He obviously goes through some different challenges than everyone else with the language barrier. He’s trying hard to understand. He’s been great so far, locker room. Joke around with him he understands.”
They now have combined for four goals and assists together in the past three games, “We are understanding each other much better,” Michkov said, via translator Slava. “He’s a really good player. It’s really nice to be on the ice with him, and play with him. He’s thinking about the team a lot. At some moment he’s leadership.”
“He’s great,” Konecny said of Michkov earlier in the season. “Obviously, there are going to be growing pains with every kid. I couldn’t even imagine what was said about me at his age. It took me a while to figure it out. And that’s what I find so impressive about him is there are not that many. He’s working hard. He’s working hard at his defensive game, and playing on the right side of the puck.”
For the last few games this Duo looks pretty loose. Konecny fed Michkov for hat trick in the game last Thursday night against the Montreal Canadiens. Unfortunately, Michkov clanged the puck off the post, “The points aren’t important, the most important thing is the team is winning. The points are nice though (Laughing),” Michkov said.
Whether or not, it’s the coaching change that has fueled this particular Duo of Konecny and Michkov. They look like they have been playing together for a few years. I don’t think this is by coincidence, I just think that both are very talented players that needed to play together. They have put together in the past, so maybe now they are familiar with one another.
Michkov looks freer, and looks very confident once again with his craft. For his efforts, he’s now second in the rookie point lead with 56 (24g,32a). Michkov is also just one goal away from 25 goals in his rookie season.
The last Flyers rookie to score 25 or more goals was Mikael Renberg in 1993-94. Renberg finished that season with 38 goals. With the language barrier and everything, this is quite amazing for Michkov.
Maybe this new hot Duo of Konecny and Michkov can get Michkov to the 25 goal mark Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.
“It’s the end of a season and there’s a long, long break,” Michkov said. “I’m trying to get every single moment. Seize every single moment on the ice.”
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