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Photo Credit: Our very own Rob Windfelder
Coming into Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings. Matvei Michkov was enduring a seven game pointless drought, that saw him less engaged and lacking energy as of late. There was even speculation that he could be benched, which would have been understandably so.
“We are patiently trying to teach him the defensive part of the game, the play away from the puck,” Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella said before the game. “He’s trying, he’s learning, and it’s a lot to take sometime, not just in a year.”
Michkov is a dynamic player, and it’s tough to see him hit the rookie wall. It’s also great that Tortorella was able to communicate with Michkov following Saturday’s game, so that both parties understand where each other is coming from. Communication is the key in Michkov’s first year in the NHL.
The Kings game was a big one for Michkov. What he did was answer the bell big time, thus earning trust from his coach in Tortorella. Michkov finished the game with one goal and one assist. He now has now posted his 10th career multi-point game. Only two Flyers rookies have had as many in a season in the past 30 years, Matt Read and Simon Gagne, per NHL Stats.
“It’s just been a struggle, energy. The skating, energy, it’s just not there,” Tortorella said following Saturday’s game. “You could see him struggling before the break. If I have to take him out I will, or bench him during a period. It was my call.”
Tortorella has been sort of a different coach with Michkov. He doesn’t get overly frustrated, he’s patient, and he knows when to talk to him. The pair have weekly meetings with a translator present to go over things, but Tortorella also knows what type of player he will be in the future.
“I’m trying to do everything he (John Tortorella) said. The line let two goals in, so there are things to work on,” Michkov said via the interpreter Slava.
John Tortorella said, “He played good.” It appeared that Michkov was more confident in the game against the Kings, so let’s hope he’s turned a corner into overcoming the rookie wall.
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