PHILADELPHIA – Lots of times in awards voting, it’s not how you start a season, it’s how you finish.
In Matvei Michkov’s case, he’s trying to follow that formula to possibly become the first Flyer to ever win an NHL rookie of the year award.
On Saturday afternoon, Michkov scored twice for the second consecutive game to lead the Flyers to a 7-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres at the Wells Fargo Center.
It was their second consecutive victory since interim head coach Brad Shaw took over the bench on Thursday night following the firing of former head coach John Tortorella. In that first game, a victory over Montreal, Michkov also scored a pair of goals.
The Flyers’ win also prevented Buffalo from moving past them in the standings. A Sabres win would have put the Flyers in the Eastern Conference basement.
Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson allowed four goals but still picked up his 21st win of the season.
Michkov now has 24 goals, moving him three ahead of San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini for the NHL freshman lead. Michkov’s 56 points are tied with Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson for the rookie lead as well.
In addition to his scoring prowess, Michkov has impressed Shaw with the evolution of his overall game.
Shaw gave credit to Tortorella for working on Michkov’s play away from the puck and being responsible in the defensive side of the game, although his minus-16 would suggest there’s still some work to be done.
“He’s an exceptional player with the puck, an exceptional player offensively,” Shaw noted. “I think what he has to learn is that the better he checks and the better he plays without the puck, the sooner he gets it back, the more opportunity he will have to make the shot.
“There’s so much room for growth there away from the puck. He’s going to learn as he goes along what works and what doesn’t work. He’s a real exciting player for the potential of what sort of player he may be. He’s a challenge, he can be opinionated but he plays some exciting hockey right now and we’re reaping the benefits.”
Michkov’s second goal at 10:36 of the second period pulled the Flyers even at 3-3. The young Russian made a nice rush down the right side, muscled past defenseman Connor Clifton and fired a shot past goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Noah Cates believes Michkov is becoming everything he was advertised as.
“To finish his opportunities has been big for us early in these past couple games,” Cates said. “He doesn’t need too many chances. Playing the way he’s been playing has been big for us.”
Then the Flyers went ahead at 14:11, with Cates converting a pass from Tyson Foerster.
Jack Quinn’s power-play goal at 8:13 of the second period was Buffalo’s third straight marker to give the Sabres at 3-2 lead.
Michkov opened the scoring by netting one in the first period to help the Flyers take a 1-0 lead.
Michkov broke in and fired a shot from the left circle which got past Luukkonen at 5:27. Travis Konecny had the primary assist.
Just 29 seconds later, Jakob Pelletier notched his first goal as a Flyer. He finished off a pass from Owen Tippett.
The Sabres got one back on a shot by Quinn at 10:57.
In the third period, Tippett scored on the power play for his 20th goal of the season to give the Flyers some breathing room at 6:39. It’s the third straight season Tippett has hit the 20 mark since joining the Flyers. Then Foerster scored at 10:13 and the Flyers had their second straight game with at least six goals.
Buffalo scored a shorthanded goal but Ryan Poehling responded on the same power play to restore the three-goal edge.
Tippett was pleased to get his 20th but helping Pelletier get his first with Philadelphia might have been even more gratifying.
“I think I was around his age (23) when I got traded (from Florida for Claude Giroux),” Tippett said. “I know how tough it can be coming in (Pelletier needed 18 games to get his first goal in Philly). We were all happy for him.”
Added Pelletier: “I feel better than I did two weeks ago. It (the coaching change) is part of the business. You just have to get used to it, just got to be a pro. That’s the mindset I have.”
>Coaching change brings new life
The Flyers have scored a total of 13 goals since Shaw took over. Are the Flyers just playing with a little less pressure under Shaw?
“The change adds some new life,” Tippett said. “We realize in here we were part of the problem. I think it (the coaching change) was a wakeup call for all of us. Trying to finish our season strong here.”
>Short shots
The Flyers finish up their three-game homestand with a Monday home encounter against the Nashville Predators. . .After sitting out Thursday night’s game against Montreal, defenseman Cam York returned to the lineup but played on a second unit with Jamie Drysdale.
