Matvei Michkov scores twice, but Flyers fall in overtime

For the first 20 minutes of this one, it looked like the Flyers had Edmonton coming undone once again. They were undisciplined and couldn't stay out of their own way. It felt like another loss was imminent.

But old habits tend to die hard and they did with Philadelphia. They held two separate leads during the night, 2-0 and 3-2. However, Edmonton showed fights and came back from both to force overtime.

It was all Oilers in the extra frame as they took the second point to earn their first win of the season. While the final score wasn't great, the Flyers got to witness just what it's like to have Matvei Michkov in the NHL.

Michkovmania has officially arrived 

Get used to seeing Michkov scoring in the NHL. He did it not once, but twice against the Oilers. It took a bit of a review for his first goal to count.

After jamming the puck at the side of the net, Michkov immediately celebrated as he appeared to be the only player to see the puck go into the net. 

After an official review deemed that the puck had gone in, the Oilers decided to challenge for goaltender interference. An even longer review confirmed what Michkov had already known. He had scored his first NHL goal. But he wasn’t satisfied with just that.

After a few board battles to keep the puck in the Edmonton zone, Travis Konecny sent the cross-ice feed to Morgan Frost. Frost took a skate or two in before a soft feed to Michkov who was waiting below the face-off dot. Skating into the one-timer, he ensured everyone knew he scored that goal.

Oh and by the way, both goals were on the power play as the Flyers went 2/4 in the first period. Maybe the unit is finally turning things around

Bobby Brink stays hot

If the first period was all Philadelphia, the second period felt like it was played in the Flyers’ zone. After going down 2-0, the Oilers came alive and put pressure after pressure on Sam Ersson. He made some big saves, but Edmonton found a way to pot two goals to bring the game back to even.

It was some sloppy play and turnovers that allowed the Oilers to get back in the game. But it’s their undisciplined play that gave the Flyers chance after chance. And while their third goal didn’t come on the man advantage, it was set up by yet another Edmonton penalty.

For a brief moment, it appeared that Jett Luchanko scored his first career goal as well. But he did play a role in things as his screen in front of Stuart Skinner caused traffic in front.

The Flyers kept the puck in the zone after the power play ended, passing it quickly around the zone to keep Edmonton on their toes. It led to a Bobby Brink shot from inside the right face-off dot. It deflected in front and into the net.

Consistency is a key with Brink who has been one of the team’s best players dating back to training camp and the preseason. He has points in all three of the Flyers games.

Late collapse dooms Flyers again 

A 3-2 lead against the Oilers was always going to be dangerous. Even without their big stars contributing up until that point, there was always a chance they were going to break through. Outshooting Philadelphia 13-8 in the final period, it felt like at any moment Edmonton was going to find a way. The Flyers had chances of their own and couldn’t capitalize. Soon enough, that comes back to bite you.

And the Oilers big guns came to play in the end. Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and Evan Bouchard teamed up. The latter was shooting the puck at any chance he got and he was finally rewarded for it. He had over 14 shot attempts in the game with only three of them hitting the net. But it was the final one that counted.

Getting to overtime with some of the best players in the world is a recipe for disaster. And it was none other than McDavid and Draisaitl who teamed up to score the game-winning goal. After Travis Sanheim went down in the corner, it was an odd-man rush the other way. Ersson made a huge stop on McDavid, but couldn’t do the same with Draisaitl.

The Oilers had the only two shots in overtime and earned their first win of the season. McDavid is still without a goal, but he’ll happily take his two assists and a win.

Other Observations

• Owen Tippett came close numerous times to scoring. He hit at least three points and was credited with five shots. His first of the season is coming.
• The Flyers penalty kill went a perfect 4/4 and has killed off 12/14 to start the season. On the other hand, the power play has scored in all three games.
• Morgan Frost had two assists as he and Michkov showed instant chemistry. He's another play looking to stay consistent.