Whereas a gathering between cross-conference opponents each in eighth place of their divisions sometimes wouldn’t carry a lot intrigue, anybody with cash on the Calder Trophy race had their eyes on the Wells Fargo Middle Monday night. The 2 gamers on the high of Rookie of the 12 months odds in the summertime confronted off for the primary time, with Matvei Michkov returning to the Flyers’ lineup from a two-game stint as a wholesome scratch to face 2024 No. 1 decide Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks.
It turned out to be a sport price monitoring, that includes two fights and a valiant comeback effort. However the Flyers held on for a 4-3 win, with Michkov enjoying an enormous position within the consequence.
Sport Recap
The Flyers didn’t let any Monday lethargy seep in with a purpose, a combat, and a point-blank scoring likelihood within the first two minutes. The primary two belonged to Erik Johnson, who scored his first purpose of the season on a slick feed off the frenzy by Anthony Richard. Then, when Johnson noticed Givani Smith messing with Michkov earlier than the following faceoff, he dropped the gloves to right away transfer on to Gordie Howe hat trick watch.
Possibilities have been plentiful at five-on-five, with the Flyers controlling play early within the interval. However simply when it regarded just like the Sharks have been beginning to string some good shifts collectively, Philadelphia earned a second energy play and didn’t let it go by the wayside. A beautiful passing play between Emil Andrae, Michkov, and Travis Konecny led to a booming one-timer from the bumper spot for Konecny.
Michkov continued his response sport with a second-period breakaway purpose. Ryan Poehling noticed the 19-year-old forward of the pack and Michkov slipped the puck by means of Vitek Vanecek’s legs to place the Flyers within the driver’s seat. It was additionally Michkov’s first major 5-on-5 level of the season, addressing his struggles at even power.
Although the Flyers continued driving play within the second interval, the Sharks did get on the board when William Eklund’s centering cross bounced in off Jack Thompson’s skate with 4:31 left within the second interval. And although the Flyers responded properly to that purpose by persevering with to generate possibilities, the Sharks obtained one other purpose again earlier than the break on an absolute snipe by Mikael Granlund, who quietly has 18 factors in 17 video games.
San Jose didn’t have many possibilities within the third interval, with arguably their most harmful look coming when Konecny tipped a cross into Ersson on the backcheck. However with the Flyers unable to complete on their frequently rising possibilities, the Sharks have been by no means correctly put away. And certain sufficient, a fluky bounce off a Flyer caromed proper to Barclay Goodrow for simply his second purpose (and level) of the season to tie the rating with 2:24 remaining.
The Calder candidates got here collectively for a skirmish within the closing seconds of regulation, with Michkov receiving the one penalty to offer the Sharks a full two-minute 4-on-3 to start out time beyond regulation. Philadelphia killed the penalty off efficiently, and when the mud settled, the Flyers discovered themselves of their third consecutive shootout. After splitting these two in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers, the rubber match went the Flyers’ method. Fittingly, Michkov and Konecny lit the lamp within the abilities contest, whereas Celebrini and Will Smith failed to attain.
Monday started a stretch of home-cooking for the Flyers, who’re house for seven of their subsequent 9 video games by means of Black Friday. One of many exceptions is their subsequent sport, a visit to Ottawa to face their outdated captain Claude Giroux and the Senators. In the meantime, the Sharks get a much-needed two-day break earlier than persevering with their East Coast street journey on Thursday at Madison Sq. Backyard earlier than wrapping it up Saturday evening in Pittsburgh.
