Tortorella lauds Michkov's response to scratches: 'He competes'
If John Tortorella was hoping to motivate Matvei Michkov with back-to-back healthy scratches, he can consider the plan successful.
The rookie phenom played with his hair on fire Monday against the San Jose Sharks, delivering a goal and an assist in Philadelphia's 4-3 shootout victory.
"He played good," Tortorella said postgame.
The coach added: "I wasn't worried about how he was going to respond. I wasn't worried about that at all. He competes."
Michkov beat Vitek Vanecek through the five-hole on a breakaway:
Matvei Michkov puts it home on the breakaway to extend the lead for the @NHLFlyers! 👏 pic.twitter.com/wxqeRAABbA
— NHL (@NHL) November 12, 2024
He scored again in the shootout with a slick backhand-forehand deke:
All is well that ends well. #SJSvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/GBGweKI6nw
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) November 12, 2024
Michkov also displayed his feisty side in a battle with fellow Calder Trophy contender Macklin Celebrini, though the Flyer was penalized for it:
Matvei Michkov and Macklin Celebrini go at it in the final seconds of regulation and Michkov gets the lone penalty 🫣 pic.twitter.com/GUryyjuIRT
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) November 12, 2024
Michkov watched Philadelphia's last two games from the press box - a shootout win and a shootout loss - for what Tortorella described as developmental reasons.
The 19-year-old appears to have pulled some positives from his stint on the sidelines.
"I had plenty of energy and feel really good," he said via an interpreter, per NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "The two games I watched, it was good to watch and good to get some time off and rethink."
Michkov leads all NHL rookies with five goals and ranks second with 12 points in 14 games so far this season.
The Flyers selected Michkov seventh overall in 2023. He arrived in North America earlier than expected and is looking like one of the best players in his draft.