With their backs against the wall, the Philadelphia Flyers earned one of their best team wins on Friday, beating the New York Islanders 4-1 on Long Island at UBS Arena. It was a big win for Philadelphia, which once again started and finished the game as the best team on the ice.

The Flyers came out of the gate hot, controlling play in their offensive zone for a good bit of the first period. Two first-period penalties against the Islanders gave the Flyers power-play chances, furthering the strong start.

New York was held to just two shots on goal through 20 minutes, and 30 minutes into the game, they still had fewer than 10 shots on goal. Philly was truly dominating.

One of the big reasons the Flyers earned such a big win was the early and late shot suppression. Allowing 2 shots in a period is ridiculous work by the Flyers. They gave up 12 shots on goal during the second period, which is far less impressive. But in the third period, they allowed just 8 shots on goal, and that’s with the Islanders’ extra attacker for nearly 7 minutes.

Dan Vladar returned to his excellent form on Friday. Then again, it’s easy when the team in front of you limits the chances.

It also helps when you get two goals early against a goalie that’s typically dominated. The Flyers got off to a fast start. Owen Tippett scored another dazzling goal, followed by an Alex Bump snipe before the period ended.

Travis Sanheim added an insurance goal late for the Flyers as well. The biggest factor leading to the win: Matvei Michkov stole the show.

Read More: Flyers Earn Massive Two Points for Playoff Race, Survive With 4-1 Win vs. Islanders on Friday

Matvei Michkov led the way for the Flyers on Friday

Matvei Michkov has been under a microscope. Especially as of late. I’ll take it a step further. The microscope was really focused on Michkov Friday, after what was a very bad game the night before.

With the focus on him heavily, and not necessarily for good reason, Michkov stepped up big time. Not only that, but he did it in what was, at that moment, the biggest game of the season for the Flyers.

For just the second time this season, Michkov tallied a 3-point game with a goal and two primary assists. It was the 7th three-point night of his young career. There were 12 scoreless games between Friday and Michkov’s last goal. It was his first five-on-five goal since January 23rd at Colorado, his other 3-point game this season.

He needed a big night, and got one. Despite the goal-scoring woes, Michkov has still been producing. Since the California road trip began, he has 10 points in 10 games.

Friday night’s game was everything you wanted to see from Michkov. He had 3 shots on goal, but his points were all creative and impressive.

The goal came after an Islanders defensive play collapsed. Michkov forechecked aggressively, got the puck, and banked it off the back of Ilya Sorokin. His assist on Bump’s goal came from a literally wall-to-wall pass across the ice. Michkov’s assist on the Sanheim goal may have been his most impressive. He, along with Bump and Noah Cates, did not rush the attack. They displayed patience and waited for a play to develop. Michkov held, spun, and found Sanheim entering the zone with nothing but space.

Matvei Michkov was incredibly impressive on Friday.

Other observations from Friday

You cannot take Alex Bump out of the lineup on Sunday. The young forward rotation is likely going to cause someone who deserves playing time to, well, miss playing time. Bump has already fallen victim to that before. He should not anytime soon.

Bump was impressive as well, and did it in very limited playing time. In just 9:09 of playing time, Bump managed to score a goal, earn an assist, and be a +3. He was also making some pretty good defensive plays, including the one that led to the Sanheim goal. Alex Bump was the second star of Friday’s game, in my opinion.

During the Flyers’ second power play of the game, JG Pageau had a short-handed breakaway. Tyson Foerster skated back to break up the play with his stick. It wasn’t some game-changing moment. Looking back, if he had scored there, it likely would not have changed the game. But it is the best example of something I’ve noticed in the last two games. Foerster looks a lot quicker than he did before the injury.

While speaking of injuries, it could be something, or it could be absolutely nothing. Trevor Zegras went off the ice and right down the tunnel towards the end of the first period. He looked to be favoring his left arm, and the glove came off before he got to the tunnel. Zegras did return for the start of the second period, but did not take many draws. He only took 3, one in the first and two in the third. The Isaldners are a very good faceoff team, which is worth considering.

I only mention this because Zegras left the ice favoring his shoulder after a big hit vs. Washington on Tuesday. Again, it could be something, or it could be absolutely nothing.

Read More: Friday’s Game Will Clarify the Flyers’ Path to the Playoffs