VOORHEES, N.J. — Matvei Michkov didn’t see the ice in overtime of the Flyers’ 3-2 loss Thursday night to the Golden Knights.
Travis Konecny had a turnover that led to Mark Stone’s game-winning goal with 2:13 minutes left in the five-minute OT. With 3:46 minutes left, Noah Cates won an offensive-zone draw. The Flyers eventually lost possession before regaining it later in the defensive zone.
Nine skaters had a shift in overtime for the Flyers. Rick Tocchet said Michkov’s turn was coming up had the Flyers not committed a turnover.
“We’re trying to get possession, so usually you try to get the two centermen, but he was actually going to be up on the run, the next guy,” the Flyers’ head coach said Saturday after morning skate. “Unfortunately, couldn’t get to him in time. But, yeah, he’s in the mix.”
Michkov is just 11th on the Flyers in overtime minutes this season with 6:25. Last season, he was third with 21:23 minutes and led the team with three overtime winners.
With his knack for the big moment, Michkov should see the ice more in overtime. He’s too talented of a finisher and playmaker. But it’s also worth noting that Michkov has not had the same start to this season that he did in his dynamic rookie year.
“[Overtime] is about possession, skating, things like that,” Tocchet said, “so that’s stuff we’ve got to work on.”
Sean Couturier and Emil Andrae were on the ice Thursday night with Konecny in overtime when he tried to make a pass but lost the puck.
“Overtime’s about a lot of strategy,” Tocchet said. “This year, we’ve mismanaged the puck. And that’s what happens in overtime, you can’t mismanage the puck.”
The 16-9-4 Flyers are 2-4 in overtime and have gone to the bonus period 11 times. They’re 5-0 in the shootout.
“Shot selection is big in overtime,” Tocchet said. … “Any time you’re in the middle of the ice in the slot, you’ve got to shoot it. But anything outside the dots, you can’t miss the net and you can’t have a bad pass.
“Most overtimes, you tell them to hold onto the puck, regroup and do it again. I think we’re taking the first option all the time when it’s not there. Then you lose the puck, you give them the puck and then you have to defend. It’s tough to defend 3-on-3.”