Matvei Michkov didn’t score Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as the host Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators.
Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak.
Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their last three games — all losses. Justus Annunen made 16 saves but lost his fifth straight decision (0-4-1).
Michkov entered Monday having scored twice in both of the Flyers’ last two games. He didn’t score, but he settled for his third straight multi-point game and 18th of the season.
The Calder Trophy candidate, though, had his chances.
Filip Forsberg robbed Michkov of a likely goal midway through the first period when he flipped a rolling puck off the goal line after a breakaway chance.
Michkov also had a shot ricochet off the crossbar in the second period. Still, he helped the Flyers take the first lead less than a minute later on Poehling’s goal with 11:10 left in the second period.
L’Heureux tied the game by putting in a rebound from the slot, but that lasted just 34 seconds. Drysdale got the game-winner after Michkov couldn’t control a loose puck, which went to the crashing defenseman with 6:14 left in the second.
The Predators thought they would get a power play to start the third period as Drysdale was assessed a high-sticking penalty at the end of the second. However, it was overturned after officials determined the puck and not the blueliner’s stick hit Nashville’s Steven Stamkos in the head.
With 8:25 left, Nashville thought Stamkos tied the game, but officials said he interfered with Fedotov. The Predators also had chances after pulling Annunen in the last two minutes, but the Flyers prevented them from getting to Fedotov.
