Photo Credit: Our very own Michael Reaves
Matvei Michkov has answered the two games worth of benchings well. He has registered five goals and five assists in ten games since his benchings. For his efforts, Michkov is now first in the league lead in scoring by a rookie with 19 points, and first in the league lead with goals by a rookie with nine. Michkov also has three overtime winners too:
Michkov became the 4th Flyers teenager to score three or more game winning goals in a single season: Danius Zubrus, Mike Ricci, and Sean Couturier were the others. In addition, Michkov scored his third career overtime goal and that is tied for the most by a teenager in NHL history. The others: Sidney Crosby, Rick Nash and Ilya Kovalchuk, per NHL Stats. This is a great record to be a part of.
Whether it’s a game of ping pong or air hockey, Michkov is very competitive. He just wants to win, and multiple players and Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella has said that, as well, “There’s not many moments you’re gonna get. When you get the moment you have to be cold-blooded and finish it,” Matvei Michkov said following the game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
It’s been awhile since the Flyers had a clutch goal scorer. Michkov is that, apparently. He has now scored three overtime winners in just 23 games played, “He’s a gamer. He wants to make a difference,” Sean Couturier said following the game. “He’s getting the opportunities and making the difference, so it’s nice to see him produce and help the team win.”
Check out his stat lines below, on what he has accomplished through just 23 games:
Matvei Michkov, 19-years-old
Leads the NHL in scoring by a rookie with 19 points
Leads the NHL in goals by a rookie with 9
Has 19 points in 23 games played (9g,10a)
Has scored 3 overtime winners in just 23 games
Won rookie of the month in October
Competitiveness cannot be taught, that is something that is ingrained in you and Michkov has it, Travis Konecny said after the victory against the San Jose Sharks. Everything is going as planned with Michkov now in the states. It’s going to take more time for him and his family to become adapted to North America, but it couldn’t have gone any better than it has been.
Look who’s become best friends in the process, and both are playing very well for the Flyers:
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