Michkov Benched as Flyers Suffer Second Straight Shut Out

The Philadelphia Flyers were shut out for the second time in as many games in what may have been the most dysfunctional hockey game I have ever watched. The New York Islanders left Philadelphia with a 3-0 win Thursday night. With the loss, the Flyers fell to 23-24-6.

In a night overconsumed by trade rumors swirling around the Wells Fargo Center, it is easy to let the fact that Matvei Michkov was benched after the Islanders’ first score. Michkov left the Flyers defensive zone early before Simon Holmstrom’s game-opening score. He was then seen getting into an emotional argument with John Tortorella on the bench after the play.

Michkov did not take a shift in the game after that moment.

“You (the media) may not believe it, but it’s (Michkov’s benching) for the right reason,” Tortorella said. “We care about him, I care about him… we’re going to do this the right way with kid because we think he is special. It is my job to do that no matter what happens.” 

Owen Tippett was already injured, and Morgan Frost was pulled from the lineup mid-game–the Flyers were dragging. Michkov’s benching was just another ill-timed aspect of Thursday’s game.

The Flyers were shut out in back-to-back games and have now scored one or fewer goals in four of their last five games. They have seemingly found themselves in an inopportune offensive rut.

With four games to go before the Four Nations Face-Off break, the Flyers will face the Avalance and Utah Hockey Club on the road, then wrap it up with the Capitals and Penguins at home. Now is not the time for the Flyers to be lacking goals.

Flyers’ alternate captain Scott Laughton said the Flyers had a lot of things to look back on as to why they weren’t scoring. “I thought Sorokin saw the puck way too much tonight. (We) didn’t get enough traffic on him. He’s an elite goalie. When you don’t get traffic on them. It’s tough to score, especially from where we’re shooting.”

The Flyers will have a few days to figure out their offensive woes before their next contest.

The Flyers don’t play again until Sunday when they travel to Colorado to take on the Avalanche with a 3 P.M. EST puck drop.