Matvei Michkov scores his first two NHL goals but Flyers lose, 4-3, to Oilers in overtime

EDMONTON, Alberta — Connor who?

Against Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, the Matvei Michkov Show raised its curtain.

Entering the third game of his young career, the Russian phenom had just one assist to his name, a setup pass to Travis Konecny on the power play in the Flyers’ 6-3 loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday night.

Approximately 185 miles north up the Queen Elizabeth II Highway from the Scotiabank Saddledome, in front of a packed Rogers Place crowd — in orange, but mostly for the Oilers — he tripled his point total for the season on Tuesday with a pair of goals. The game, eventually a 4-3 overtime loss for the Flyers, was not even 10 minutes old.

» READ MORE: Flyers are exercising patience to improve their line chemistry: ‘We’ve just got to keep working’

“He likes to score,” coach John Tortorella said. “So he’s in the areas, and I think that’s where, as a new guy coming in, a big spotlight on him, I think that’s what’s kind of drawn his teammates to him is not the goals tonight, but some of the other things he does, too. He’s helping our power play. He’s a dynamic guy.

“It’s something we’ve talked about here since I’ve been here for the past three years, that those are the type of players you need to add to your roster as you go through here to try to be a better team.”

Michkov’s first NHL goal took a while to become official.

He knew it. The Flyers knew it. The referees needed another look.

“If he did [say anything when he came to the bench], I don’t think it was a language I understood,” said grinning winger Garnet Hathaway. “But you could see how excited he was, and it’s infectious, too, right? You love it and he brings it every day. I would have loved to get the win for him and just make that night a little more special, but he’s got a little more confidence, right? And I think that’s what’s going to help him build his game.”

The goal came on the budding Flyers power play — through three games it is tied for 10th in the NHL (26.7%). But it wasn’t one of the set plays the quad of Konecny, Michkov, Owen Tippett, and Morgan Frost were working on at the end of Tuesday’s morning skate. Those plays were off faceoffs and featured tic-tac-toe passing.

This one was quite different.

For this goal, after he knocked the puck down in the neutral zone, Tippett corralled it in the offensive zone and attempted a backhanded shot that went wide. It hit the end boards and bounced toward the front of the net, where Michkov got a couple of whacks and jammed the puck at the right post.

From the in-goal camera, it was apparent that it squeaked under the pad of Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner before he scooped it out of the net. After a review, the referees agreed. Michkov was mobbed by his teammates on the bench.

“I think everyone in this room is maybe more excited than he is, I hope,” said Hathaway, who shook Michkov when the goal was given. “You can see the battle he has, the compete he has. And I think that kind of goal just kind of epitomizes what he brings to the game.”

But for a moment, the elation was on hold — Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch challenged for goaltender interference.

After what seemed like an eternity, the video review determined that Michkov was making a play on the loose puck in the crease. Finally, he could celebrate goal No. 1, the first of likely many.

“It’s exciting,” Frost said. “He’s been talking about it. All he says is, ‘I score. I score.’ So it’s nice to get him one. And, yeah, I think hopefully the floodgates open now. … Happy for him.”

The floodgates did open.

Although the Flyers didn’t score on the ensuing power play for the unsuccessful challenge on the first goal, they got another chance when Corey Perry was called for slashing Scott Laughton in the neutral zone. On that man advantage, Michkov made it two.

This goal was more obvious and more of a goal scorer’s goal. It wasn’t exactly what the top power-play unit was working on in the morning, although Michkov was taking a one-timer here and there.

Konecny went cross-ice from above the left faceoff circle to Frost at the right point. The center walked it down before sending a pass to Michkov at the goal line — and the rookie didn’t hesitate in firing it home from a bad angle.

“He’s willing to shoot it from wherever,” Frost said. “I’ve seen him in preseason. He was shooting from behind the goal line, and that’s a smart play for him to be able to open up and shoot from that position. It’s not always your first instinct to shoot from that area. So, kudos to him.”

» READ MORE: Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov is the latest Philly sports savior. Can he match the hype?

The quick shot didn’t give Skinner enough time to slide over to the post. Michkov did the “Are you not entertained?” reaction, and the Flyers fans who dotted the stands surely were. Oilers fans, probably not as much, although it looked familiar to them as that spot along the goal line normally is Draisaitl’s “office.”

Michkov’s night may have seen him finally bank a pair of pucks to commemorate his first two NHL goals but he also did the little things. As observed in the first two games, he showed a high-end level of passing and creativity to create space. In 18 minutes, 3 seconds of ice time, he also finished with five shots on goal, one hit, and two blocked shots.

“He’s a dynamic player, and not just his passing, but just how he can hold onto a puck and get out of traffic,” Tortorella said. “I think it goes a long way with his teammates. He’s out there blocking shots also and doing all the other stuff that creates that team camaraderie, that team concept. So that’s really important.”

Michkov, who is still learning English, was not made available after the game.

Jett Luchanko was back in the lineup on Tuesday, in place of Noah Cates. It looked like he scored the Flyers’ third goal, but replays showed Bobby Brink’s centering pass went off the stick of Mattias Ekholm and in. “I love his speed,” Tortorella said of Luchanko. “Played a lot against McDavid tonight, wasn’t intimidated, did some really good things. So, yeah, he’s an interesting guy.” … Sean Couturier and Troy Stecher dropped the gloves after the Flyers captain bumped Skinner when he came out to play the puck. On replay, it looked like Skinner stepped into Couturier. … Joel Farabee also fought Perry. … Travis Sanheim skated in his 500th NHL game — all with the Flyers. … Nick Seeler participated in parts of the team’s morning skate. It is the first time he’s been with the main group since Oct. 2, the day after he sustained a lower-body injury.

The Flyers head back to the U.S. for the finale of the four-game road trip. They will take on the Seattle Kraken on Thursday (10 p.m., NBCSP).