Matvei Michkov responds to benching, but Flyers blow lead in loss to Kings

LOS ANGELES From cold-blooded to ice cold.

Thats the best way to describe Philadelphia Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov s month of December heading into Sundays game with the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena.

The 20-year-olds season reached its nadir Saturday in Anaheim.

In the midst of his seventh straight game without a point, Michkov sat on the bench for the entirety of the third period.

There were strong indications he might come out of the lineup as a healthy scratch for the Kings game, which happened once already for two games in early November.

Advertisement But, he played.

And he got back on the scoresheet with a goal and an assist.

Although the Flyers blew a two-goal lead in losing to the Kings 5-4, Michkov was doing the sorts of things in the offensive zone he showed earlier in the month when he recorded 10 points (five goals, five assists) during a five-game scoring streak from Nov.

30 to Dec.

10.

I thought Mich competed harder tonight, coach John Tortorella said.

I thought there was a big difference in his game.

Tortorella said he spoke with Michkov immediately after the Ducks game and again at some point Sunday before the Kings game, presumably through interpreter Slava Kuznetsov, who is on the road trip.

In his Sunday pregame media availability, Tortorella explained that the reason Michkov didnt play the third period on Saturday was fairly simple he doesnt yet trust him enough on the defensive side of the puck in a close game, particularly when Michkov is mired in an offensive dry spell.

A misplay during four-on-four play Saturday when Michkov blew the zone, leaving Drew Helleson wide-open for a shot that required a difficult stop by Samuel Ersson early in the second period, stuck in Tortorellas craw.

When it was 1-1 entering the third period, the decision to sit Michkov for the remainder of the game was apparently made.

The defensive part of the game that were trying to teach him, very slowly, comes into play in a 1-1 game, Tortorella said before the Kings game.

This has all been explained to him.

Its not going to get any easier.

As the checking comes along and the games become closer as you get into the new year, this is all part of the process of us teaching him what it is to be an NHL player.

Advertisement I watch some other young guys (around the league) and theyre put in situations where theyre just running all over the place.

I am not going to develop this guy that way.

Im certainly not going to turn him into a checker, but we have to teach him what it is to have some sort of defensive awareness and what it is to be a pro in the National Hockey League.

This is all part of the process.

Michkov, speaking after Sundays game through Kuznetsov, didnt show any outward frustration with what happened one day earlier.

(Tortorella) said that everything will work out through work, and the scoring will come, Michkov said.

I try to follow all the instructions of the coach.

While Michkovs play was encouraging, the Flyers blew a prime chance to put away one of the leagues best teams and secure their second straight win coming out of the break.

They led 4-2 when Travis Konecny carelessly gave the puck away to the Kings Warren Foegele , who was stopped on his initial breakaway attempt but potted the rebound at 15:04 of the middle frame to make it a one-goal game.

Los Angeles took over from there.

The Flyers were fortunate to escape the second with their lead still intact, but it didnt last very long into the third.

Anze Kopitar tied it at 6:44, and then got the game winner 2:11 later.

Obviously, we wanted to stick to our game, but they grabbed the momentum late in the second, defenseman Nick Seeler said.

Theyre a team that does that.

Tortorella was pleased with the Flyers effort but pointed to Foegeles goal as the turning point.

I thought we were on our toes, he said.

Were trying to play better in front of our goalie.

I dont think we gave them much.

A really good team.

Third goal is just a kick in the teeth.

The first one wasnt much better, as goalie Aleksei Kolosov was too deep in his net while Kevin Fiala s shot from a distance beat him high.

It was the kind of goal that was plaguing the Flyers before the Christmas break and only the latest example of Kolosov simply not looking like he belongs in the NHL.

Advertisement With the loss, Kolosov is 4-7-1 with a 3.49 goals-against average.

Further, there are 52 NHL goalies with at least a dozen games played this season, and Kolosovs .869 save percentage is last among them.

Whether that means its time to turn to No.

3 goalie Ivan Fedotov is difficult to say, but Tortorella didnt pin Sundays loss on Kolosov.

Yes, he could have played the first goal better, according to the coach, but it was some unluckiness for him on the others, Tortorella said.

I thought he played well.

Kolosov, also speaking through Kuznetsov, said it was not the best game.

Could do a little more for the team.

Its believed Kolosov would return to the KHL rather than report to the AHL, despite his struggles.

When asked, though, whether he might benefit from more time in the AHL, where he played four so-so games this season for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Kolosov simply said: It did help.

The Flyers will continue their road trip on New Years Eve in San Jose to play the Sharks .

Michkov will once again be in the spotlight for that game, as its the second and final meeting between him and fellow Calder Trophy candidate Macklin Celebrini .

He will enter it on a high note, considering his slump ended against the Kings.

Hes going to have some ups and downs, Seeler said.

I think the most important thing is his mindset, and you can see hes a competitor and wants to compete for his teammates.

It was nice to see him have a game like he did tonight and hopefully gain some confidence from that.

(Photo of Matvei Michkov celebrating Scott Laughtons goal: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images).

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