Trio of Flyers show insane chemistry against Oilers

The biggest hope for Matvei Michkov over the 4 Nations break was that he was going to be able to get some much-needed rest. Not just physically, but mentally as well. His 56 games are tied for the most games he has ever played in a regular season. He played the same amount in 2020-21 in the MHL.

But the grind of the NHL schedule is much different than anything Michkov has ever faced before. So a few weeks off would certainly do him some good. The rest of the team could use the break as well, but they are used to playing through an 82-game schedule.

Resuming play against the Oilers, things could've gotten ugly. With Connor McDavid fresh off scoring the overtime winner for Canada and league-leading scorer Leon Draisaitl on the other side, they can terrorize teams in an instant. Except McDavid was held off the scoresheet, though Draisaitl added a goal for the fourth straight game and posted two points.

On the other side, the Flyers looked reenergized from the puck drop. While the entire team played well, it was Michkov's line with Sean Couturier and Owen Tippett that shined above the rest. The numbers alone tell the story. Michkov and Couturier finished with a goal and two assists while Tippett had a two-goal outing.

This was the second time this season that Michkov has posted three points in a game. Coincidentally enough, the last time he did so was a game in which Tippett also had two goals. That came against the Panthers on Dec. 5. At times, the two have shown to have chemistry with each other. The Flyers attempted to put these two together, along with Morgan Frost, early in the season, but it wasn't clicking.

Safe to say it clicked in this one.

You could tell it was going to be that type of game for Michkov when he opened the scoring just over two minutes into the game. Egor Zamula created the turnover with a long reach and poke check off the stick of Evan Bouchard. A pass from Scott Laughton sent Michkov into the zone. His initial shot missed the net but he was quick to follow it and cash in on the bounce off the boards.

We know the offensive talent that Michkov has, but seeing him get on the board that quickly into a game after a rough stretch before the break shows what he can do when feeling confident.

After the Oilers took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission, the Flyers didn't waste much time tying the game up. The speed of Tippett is evident and when he gets going down ice, it's almost impossible to stop him. Clocked at over 20 miles per hour, Tippett knocked the puck loose along the boards and the race was on between him and Brett Kulak. The 31-year-old was no match as Tippett easily maneuvered around him and backhanded it high over the shoulder of Stuart Skinner.

Later on in the period, Michkov turned a face-off loss in the offensive zone into a prime opportunity. He hopped on the loose puck and skated through to give himself a better look at what options he had. Spotting Couturier at the back door, he threaded the needle and allowed the veteran to slam it into the open cage. It was the 200th goal of Couturier's career, a reward after what he's pushed through during the last few years.

Edmonton again would tie the game in the second period as this one looked like whoever scored last would win the game. Thankfully for the Flyers, they would score the final three goals of the game. But the trio of Couturier, Michkov, and Tippett wasn't done yet.

Couturier came away with the puck in the neutral zone as he stripped Mattias Janmark of possession. He sent it up between his legs to Tippett who chipped it to Michkov in what turned into a 2-on-0. Michkov fed the puck over to Tippett who wasted no time getting it past Skinner.

That was just the offensive numbers. Diving deeper shows just how dominant this trio was. While they had the lowest amount of ice time together amongst regular forward lines at even strength, they made their minutes count. They owned a 69.57 CF%, outshot the Oilers 13-3, and outscored them 4-0 when on the ice together. Edmonton had no chance when the three were out there together as the scoring chances were 10-1. Talk about dominance.

It's only one game, but the Flyers could have something going with these three.