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Takeaways: Barkey shines, Michkov fights, but Flyers fall flat in 6-3 loss to Penguins

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The Philadelphia Flyers extended their losing streak, this one a 6-3 loss to the Penguins in a game that saw Denver Barkey with a pair of assists and Matvei Michkov fighting for the first time, sticking up for the youngster in the third period.

The basics

First period: 2:16- Justin Brazeau (Ben Kindel, Anthony Mantha) (PPG), 12:25- Bryan Rust (Kris Letang, Sidney Crosby) (PPG)
Second period: 1:16- Egor Chinakhov (Evgeni Malkin, Tommy Novak), 2:17- Rodrigo Abols (Cam York, Carl Grundstrom), 18:29- Noel Acciari (Blake Lizotte)
Third period: 3:10- Sidney Crosby (Evgeni Malkin, Rickard Rakell) (PPG), 4:27- Connor Dewar (Tommy Novak), 10:54- Nick Seeler (Denver Barkey, Noah Juulsen), 17:25- Matvei Michkov (Denver Barkey, Sean Couturier)
SOG: 33 (PHI) – 30 (PIT)

Some takeaways

Ersson back to back?

Sam Ersson replaced the injured Dan Vladar on Wednesday night in Buffalo, coming in relief the final 40 minutes. Although some might have suspected Aleksei Kolosov might have made the start given Ersson’s appearance last night, the Flyers went with Ersson. And the Flyers did absolutely nothing to help him out in the first period. The Flyers took one dumb penalty after another, leaving Ersson hung out to dry. After making it 2-0, Philadelphia gave up another golden chance that Ersson stopped, keeping his team in it momentarily. And later in the first, the Flyers were hemmed in their own zone for nearly 90 seconds. Despite giving up a pair, Ersson made some key saves to keep it from being a laugher so early.

However, under two minutes into the second, Egor Chinakhov buried one by Ersson, quickly turning the game into a slow but steady laugher. It nearly marked the end of the night for the goaltender. Nearly. See below.

A WTF moment

Philadelphia finally got back in the game a little bit, with a Cam York shot deflected by Rodrigo Abols to make it a 3-1 game.

After the Flyers scored their first of the night, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet pulled Ersson, replacing him with Aleksei Kolosov. It seemed like an extremely bizarre time to make the switch, especially considering how the Flyers at least made it a two-goal game. But whether it was because of playing last night, or simply that Tocchet has little trust in Ersson, Kolosov made his second appearance of the season.

Aleksei wasn’t aces

Aleksei Kolosov kept Philadelphia in it despite not having a lot of action. His biggest of the night was with five minutes left in the second when Anthony Mantha was stoned by the Flyers netminder, swallowing the puck and not allowing a rebound. However, the Flyers were just not getting much in the way of good bounces. Late in the second, a back-breaking goal gave Pittsburgh a 4-1 lead as the puck bounced slowly over Kolosov’s back and into the net. Unfortunately, on the next shift, a similar shot at Skinner arced but didn’t end up in the net.

In the third, Kolosov didn’t make many saves but didn’t have much help.

Barkey returns

After missing Wednesday night’s game against Buffalo (healthy scratch), forward Denver Barkey returned to the lineup. It was a busy day for the youngster, after being named the Lehigh Valley Phantoms representative at the upcoming American Hockey League All-Star Classic. And it was Barkey who finally got the first great chance, drawing a penalty before hitting the iron with a backhand. Barkey, who found himself with Sean Couturier and Matvei Michkov, set up Michkov nicely on the Flyers’ first power play. But as has been the norm, nothing materialized.

Later in the first, on Philadelphia’s second power play, Barkey was the only one who was able to generate a credible scoring chance, delivering a great pass into the slot that was foiled by Penguins keeper Stuart Skinner. Barkey seemed to be one of the few forwards who looked like he has some jump in him. And in the second period, the Flyers followed suit. For some reason, as badly as they looked in the first, they were buzzing in the second. Some great chances by Michkov and Barkey in front were stopped, but all four lines kept coming. Eight minutes into the second, the Flyers had 20 shot attempts compared to the Penguins’ three.

Through 40 minutes, Barkey had a stellar Corsi For percentage (73.33 per cent), second only to his center Sean Couturier who was at 76.47 per cent five-on-five. And he thankfully wasn’t hurt on a hard hit in the third (more about that later). He did get a primary assist on Nick Seeler’s goal to make it a 6-2 affair. And he made a beautiful pass to Michkov late in the game to get a pair of primary helpers.

Special teams are special for the wrong reasons

The Flyers were put to the test right off the bat when, 23 seconds in, Cam York took a hooking minor. The penalty kill, which was been leaking badly since 2026 commenced, held its own through the first minute, with Noah Cates having the best chance short-handed. Yet the Penguins came down, set up a play with a few passes, and Justin Brazeau tipped the puck in on one knee. Once again, another power play goal given up. Another early goal against. And what seems like the 50th time Philadelphia gave up the first goal (actually just the 32nd time).

Less than two minutes later, the Flyers took another moronic minor, this time Travis Sanheim with a high-sticking infraction. Although it didn’t end up being four minutes, the Flyers had ample opportunities to clear before finally getting the puck down the ice a minute in. The Flyers killed one. But they clearly learned nothing as, 12 minutes in, Garnet Hathaway took another minor, this one on a tripping call. And seconds later it was 2-0. Overall the Flyers gave up three power play goals, dropping them further down the rankings and looking like they had no answers.

Strong game from Michkov

We’re not entirely sure if Barkey’s presence has rubbed off on the Mad Russian. But Michkov was clearly engaged on this night. He looked like his old self, creating chances with some nice passes and going into the crease, taking the punishment needed to try and get the Flyers goals. Of course, he didn’t end up scoring, but he looked far better in this game then he has in the last few weeks as Philadelphia had a bevy of scoring chances in the middle period.

Michkov also dropped the gloves in the third, the first fight in his career it seems and against a rather tough guy in Blake Lizotte. Seconds after Denver Barkey got levelled in the neutral zone with a clean but heavy hit, Michkov fought and got an extra two minutes for instigating. It might not mean a lot in the outcome of the game, but it might have made huge inroads with his teammates and particularly the coaching staff.

The minor resulted in Pittsburgh scoring another power play goal, making it 5-1. And by then, the wheels fell off, the train tracks caught on fire, and the Flyers headed over the cliff. Sadly, there was still 15 minutes to go. But the pair of Michkov and Barkey found some great magic late. Barkey fed Michkov who put a one-time in the net for his first goal against a goalie in some time. A silver lining in what was a rather miserable night.

Finally some urgency, albeit too late

It’s been a while, but Philadelphia must have got the message after the first period. Whether Tocchet ripped a strip off them or read them a riot act, the Flyers looked like a far different, more disciplined, and more defensive-oriented than at any point in the opening 20 minutes. The energy and passion was there, which should’ve been there from the start. And in the end, the Flyers weren’t victorious. However, if there’s any building block to emerge from this contest, it’s that they looked more like the Flyers the first half of the season in period two than at any point in this now four-game losing streak.

In the third, Zegras had a great chance early, but couldn’t put it home. Then, as mentioned, everything fell apart. Most of the third was spent simply hoping the clock wouldn’t stop and they could get out of town as quickly as possible.

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