Matvei Michkov hasn’t scored on a goalkeeper since November 29

Marc-Olivier Cook
Matvei Michkov hasn’t scored on a goalkeeper since November 29
Credit: Getty Images

Matvei Michkov is a talented player. No doubt about it.

He scored 63 points (26 goals) in his very first NHL season with the Philadelphia Flyers, and that's no accident. The kid has offensive qualities in his game and interesting skills.

The Russian has what it takes to establish himself as one of the National League's very good players in a few years' time.

But…

But right now, it's harder for him. Mishkov hasn't beaten a goalie since November 29: he has just one shorthanded goal in his last 16 games… and that goal was scored in an empty net on December 22 against the Vancouver Canucks.

Is he getting hit by the sophomore slump?

When you look at his game log, it's also easy to see that his playing time isn't exceptional.

He's been used for less than 14 minutes four times in his last six games because he's unable to help his club on the ice. Rick Tocchet wants to give ice time to players who can give him something on the ice, and right now, Michkov doesn't fit into that category.

The youngster is really going through a bad patch and it's showing in his usage too.

(Credit: Screenshot / ESPN)

Is it just a bad patch?

I'm convinced the answer to that question is “yes.” Because, at the risk of repeating myself… Michkov is too talented to perform like this on a regular basis. He clearly has some learning to do before he becomes a big NHL star, and right now, the league is giving him a hard time.

After all, we expected him to be even better than last year – as is the case with Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson, who also had excellent first seasons in the National League.

But that's not the case with Michkov right now. And at some point, that's going to have to change.


Overtime

– Hehe.

– Sad news.

– Is he running a fever?

– Interesting.

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