Flyers rookie sensation Matvei Michkov is the real deal. His team is ready to protect the investment

Another preseason game, another big performance by rookie sensation Matvei Michkov.

After coming up empty in his preseason debut, he has notched goals in two straight games, including a pair in a 3-2 overtime win over the Boston Bruins at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday — and there wasn’t an empty-netter like his tally against the New York Islanders.

Michkov’s first of the night wasn’t flashy, redirecting a pass backdoor off the shaft of his stick at the right post on a power play. His second goal, in overtime, was, however. Michkov got a stretch pass from Travis Konecny, skated in patiently — as if he was going to pass to a streaking Konecny — and fired the winner past Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo.

The 19-year-old Russian is impressive and has the potential to be the absolute star he was always projected to be.

Here are three other things we learned from the Flyers’ thrilling win in overtime.

Flyers general manager Danny Brière said at Michkov’s introductory press conference that they showed him the epic fight between Nic Deslauriers and the New York Rangers’ Matt Rempe last season, telling the youngster: “That’s his new best friend.”

He may have said it with a chuckle, but it is clear the Flyers are serious about protecting their prized prospect. Deslauriers was not in the lineup Saturday, but that didn’t mean there weren’t guys willing to step up in his place.

In the first period, Bruins defenseman Billy Sweezey drove Michkov into the boards high and, after the Flyers winger had passed the puck, kept going at him. When they finally separated, Sweezey appeared to be trying to get Michkov to drop the gloves.

» READ MORE: Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula knows more of ‘what to expect’ heading into Year No. 2

Sweezey didn’t get Michkov; he got Sean Couturier instead. The Flyers captain, who had one fight last year — his first since the 2019 preseason — went after Sweezey and danced with a guy who had six fights last season. Couturier landed a few and got stick taps from his teammates and cheers from the fans.

“I think we’ve got to make sure we don’t get pushed around and stick up for each other. And, yeah, I thought that guy was trying to take too much advantage of him,” Couturier said.

The captain setting the tone impressed associate coach Brad Shaw, who was serving as the bench boss.

“Gigantic. That’s how teams are built, right? It’s a brotherhood,” he said “You’re playing for one another, absolute perfect leadership at that time and exactly what we needed.”

Couturier said he liked how Michkov didn’t back down after he was pushed around. He noted that the rookie was going hard to the net and battled till the whistle and got under the Bruins’ skin.

Michkov definitely did not back off. In the second period, it was Hunter McDonald who initially stepped up as Michkov was swarmed after trying to jam the puck in at the right post. He earned a roughing penalty as he helped out his buddy, who grabbed Trent Frederic in the scrum. They jawed at each other while holding each other’s jerseys before Couturier and then Konecny came over to have a word with the veteran forward.

“I don’t know him enough yet, but I don’t know,” Couturier said when asked about Michkov being an agitator. “I think it’s just the passion he has. He wants to score goals, he wants the puck, and he works hard for it. That’s what you want to see from a young guy. And, yeah, he’s just working hard, whistle to whistle, and that’s what you want.”

There are questions about whether Ivan Fedotov’s game can translate to the NHL after all his time in the Kontinental Hockey League. After stopping 10 of 12 shots in his preseason debut against the Washington Capitals, he played the whole game against Boston.

A big body at 6-foot-7, he may not be the quickest or most athletic goalie, but he was reading plays well to start things off. On the 12 shots he faced in the first period, he allowed one goal, a shot from the point by Hampus Lindholm that deflected off Jamie Drysdale. The goal came after the Flyers had two chances to get the puck out.

“I feel good,” Fedotov said. “The first period was pretty tough. Each team had really good speed and pace, everybody struggled for the puck. After the first half of the game, the speed went a little bit down. It was a little more technique, more strong play. But overall, all good.”

The Russian netminder said that he’s feeling better than last year and that his control and how the puck is moving have improved. There were times when Fedotov looked steady, and other times it looked like he was struggling to make the stop. In the second period, he gave up a shorthanded goal to Matthew Poitras. Fedotov didn’t seem to pick up the puck well on the breakaway and allowed the shot past his glove.

“When you play a lot, you can feel more comfortable, more feel the game in real time, everything,” he said. “So you can improve your skills. Of course, you have to give yourself a little break, but if you play a lot like for me, it’s not a big problem.”

Not the flashiest goalie, Fedotov does have a big frame to fill the net. But he is driven to be the best and was spotted going through his positioning during TV timeouts. He stopped 25 of 27 shots, including four from high-danger and 13 from mid-danger spots, according to Natural Stat Trick.

“Ivan was great. Puck movement, made some big saves,” Shaw said. “He’s such a big guy, he covers a lot of net. You watch a guy go in on him, and it’s like, where are you going to shoot? So it’s good to get that experience. I thought he battled hard. I thought he gave us a chance to win, and then he gets to win in the end. So it’s awesome.”

As the preseason games start dwindling, several players are trying to earn at least one more preseason game or even a chance to crack the roster.

Jett Luchanko made another plea to at least earn a nine-game tryout. Did he have moments when he showed that he’s just 18 years old? Absolutely, noted by the three giveaways he had, with two coming in the opening frame.

But playing between Bobby Brink and Joel Farabee, the center also used his speed and vision to create plays. In the first period, Luchanko turned on his jets, his best asset, to take off down the right side and cut across the crease. He couldn’t finish, but he put the Bruins on notice.

There were a few times he tried to force passes, but when he had the space he connected. On the same shift when he almost scored, he came within an inch of setting up Farabee for a breakaway, and in the second period, he started a tic-tac-toe play — the one when Couturier had a wide-open net but opted to try a pass — with a fantastic setup to Farabee in the slot on the power play.

“I mentioned his age this morning, I don’t think you even really have to mention his age. He’s just a good hockey player,” Shaw said. “He finds solutions on the ice. When it’s starting to unravel there’s certain guys that grab it and figure it out. And he’s one of those guys. ... He finds solutions. And I love that part of his game. I think it points to a long, healthy, and fantastically successful career.”

Olle Lycksell played 18 games with the Flyers last season and has had an impressive camp. He continues to get better and better each game.

» READ MORE: Flyers marvel at playmaking of rookie Matvei Michkov: ‘You don’t teach it. He can make plays’

“You always try to be at your best, and especially for me, kind of up and down a little bit last year,” he said. “So yeah, I’m really trying to make every game as best as I can. It’s really important for me,” he said about having a strong game.

“I’m just trying to motivate [myself], to be honest,” Lycksell added. “I know it’s a big year coming up for me and you’ve got to work to stay within the lineup. And, yeah, the guys made me look good out there tonight.”

Lycksell can give credit to his buddies but the Swede was the one who put on an impressive showing. He not only was the setup guy for Michkov’s power-play marker — when he walked in from the left circle — but also confidently carried the puck around the net and fed Rasmus Ristolainen in the right faceoff circle for the Flyers’ first goal.

The 25-year-old winger had several chances to score and just missed on the power play in the third period. He finished with six shots on goal and, according to Natural Stat Trick, was on the ice for 21 shot attempts by the Flyers — including eight high-danger — and just 13 against.

“I thought he was great,” Shaw said. “His vision was as good as I’ve ever seen. He’s executing, he’s doing things at speed, and that’s exactly how you create at this level. And yeah, he had a great game.”

The Flyers have Sunday off before heading to Long Island to play the Islanders on Monday (7 p.m.).