Reuters
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the 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.
Rodrigo Abols of the Philadelphia Flyers, center, collides with Jordan Oesterle of the Nashville Predators, right, after taking a shot in their NHL game at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Monday.
Photo: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
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 past three games — all losses.
Justus Annunen made 16 saves, but lost his fifth straight decision (0-4-1).
Michkov entered having scored twice in both of the Flyers’ previous two games. He did not score, but he settled for his third straight multipoint game and 18th of the season.
Travis Sanheim of the Philadelphia Flyers, left, battles for the puck with Kieffer Bellows of the Nashville Predators in their NHL game at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Monday.
Photo: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The Calder Trophy candidate 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 lead less than a minute later on Poehling’s goal with 11 minutes, 10 seconds 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 winner after Michkov could not 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 final two minutes, but the Flyers prevented them from getting to Fedotov.
Elsewhere, the Stars sank the Kraken 3-1, the Devils edged the Wild 3-2 in a shoot-out and the Flames pipped the Avalanche 3-2, also in a shoot-out.
Additional reporting by staff writer
