Matvey Michkov continues to score points and confidently move towards the Calder Trophy. So in the match against Buffalo, he scored an assist double and helped the team win. At the same time, the Russian’s skill infuriated the Canadian, who, after Matvey’s brilliant play, attacked him with his fists.

However, they immediately stood up for the young player!

Philadelphia comes to its senses

After a terrible start to the season, Philadelphia head coach John Tortorella managed to turn things around a bit. So, before the meeting with Buffalo, the Flyers scored points in four matches in a row: three wins and one shootout loss. Quite quickly the team approached the playoff zone of the Eastern Conference.

The leaders of the club are also pleased, and especially the hockey players with Russian passports. For example, after returning to the lineup, Michkov scored 3 (2+1) points in two games and became one of the brightest players of the “pilots”. Things began to improve for Ivan Fedotov. It is interesting that a few weeks ago Tortorella was disappointed in Fedotov and decided to bet on the goalkeeper tandem Samuel Ersson – Alexey Kolosov.

Ivan, who had lost three matches in a row, was also removed from the starting lineup, but he had almost no chance of returning. However, chance helped: both of his competitors were injured, and this provided the Russian with the opportunity to prove himself again. Fedotov pulled it off, winning over Tampa in a shootout and overtime over Ottawa.

And in the match against Buffalo, Tortorella’s team only continued to build on their success.

A Canadian attacked Michkov

Philadelphia created a comfortable lead in the score already in the first period. First, Tyson Foerster converted the majority, and then Travis Sanheim scored after a pass from Egor Zamula. For the Russian defender, this assist was already the fifth of the season.

And at the beginning of the second period, Zamula himself acted as a sniper. He received the puck at the blue line and fired so hard toward the goal that he knocked the stick out of the hands of a Buffalo player who decided to block the shot. Despite the rebound, Egor still hit the target and scored – 3:0. Michkov also took part in the scoring attack, extending the streak of points to four meetings.

The effective point did not calm the Russian forward, and at the end of the period he again gave an assist, but this time to Travis Konecny. At the same time, Matvey could have scored himself, because he ran one on one with the goalkeeper. However, the striker decided to slow down, show that he was going to shoot himself, and pass the ball to Konecny ​​on an empty corner – 4:0.

Matvey Michkov and Travis Konecny ​​/ Photo: © Mitchell Leff / Stringer / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

It seems that Zach Benson did not like the ease with which Michkov took the goalkeeper to the ice, so the Canadian unexpectedly hit his opponent, who was celebrating a goal. Philadelphia is not going to offend the young hockey player, so Konecny ​​immediately attacked Benson with his fists.

There was only one intrigue left in the match – will Fedotov have the first cracker in his overseas career? The answer to this question was given by Rasmus Dahlin, who converted Buffalo’s power play in the 51st minute. Having allowed the opponent to open the gate, the Flyers relaxed a little and 65 seconds before the siren they conceded the second goal. This time Ryan McLeod scored among the guests.

After scoring twice, the Sabers decided to change the goalie to a sixth skater and try to perform a miracle, but in the end Philadelphia scored into an empty net. Konecny ​​scored a double and put an end to the match – 5:2.

As for Fedotov, who stopped 23 out of 25 shots, he won the third match in a row. It seems that Ivan is slowly moving towards the status of the club’s main goalkeeper, and the coach is happy with him.

“I think he definitely feels more comfortable.” Ivan is competitive. He just looks like a player. This was not the case when he first started with us. Fedotov just has to be himself and keep playing,” Tortorella said after the match.