Flyers top Oilers, 6-3, notching second consecutive win

Jackie Spiegel, The Philadelphia Inquirer on Feb 22, 2025

Published in Hockey

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PHILADELPHIA — Like a “Tale of Two Cities,” it was the best of times and the worst of times.

The best was the Flyers burying five goals and coming out with a 6-3 win against the Edmonton Oilers. The worst? Well, in case you were missing the All-Star Game, you pretty much got one as the defense was lacking on both sides.

Edmonton’s three goals came when John Klingberg, Leon Draisaitl and Mattias Ekholm were each left alone. But the Flyers got some help on that end too and skated away with their second straight win.

Flyers’ line gets rolling

Not a bad day’s work for the line of center Sean Couturier, left wing Owen Tippett, and right wing Matvei Michkov. The trio combined for four goals.

Michkov: Goal, two assists

Michkov certainly likes playing against the Oilers and goalie Stuart Skinner. In his third NHL game against the Alberta team, he notched his first (and second) career goal. On Saturday, he collected No. 17, tying him with Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks for the rookie goal-scoring lead.

The play was started by Egor Zamula, playing his first game since Jan. 23 due to an upper-body injury. He made a nice poke-check just inside the Flyers’ blue line on Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard. Scott Laughton scooped up the puck and started the transition, sending a cross-ice pass to Michkov on the right wing; Laughton won’t get a plus-1 as he headed right off to the bench for a change with Couturier coming on.

Michkov skated to the top of the right faceoff circle and sent a puck wide. As it ricocheted off the endboard, the Russian phenom followed up his shot attempt and buried the puck.

Tippett: Two goals

You wouldn’t know watching Tippett flying around the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday afternoon that he hadn’t played hockey in almost a month. The Flyers winger returned to the lineup after missing five games with an upper-body injury, suffered Jan. 29 on a hit by New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon.

He notched a pair, the first all on his own. Chipping the puck up the boards and out of the Flyers’ end, Tippett outraced Brett Kulak down the left wing and buried the puck on the backhand up-and-over Skinner.

The second, came off a pass by Michkov as he crashed the net. But the play started in the neutral zone with Couturier poking the puck away from Mattias Janmark and sending a no-look pass between his legs down to Tippett. The winger got the puck and passed to Michkov before crossing behind him to get to the net. Michkov sent a backhand pass across the crease and Tippett banged it in for his second multi-goal game of the season.

Couturier: Goal, assist

With the line rolling, Couturier notched his marker — the 200th of his NHL career in the second period.

After he lost an offensive-zone faceoff, Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard had the puck in the corner but flipped it right to Michkov. Known for his creativity and vision — although it didn’t look like he looked up before making the pass — he settled the puck and fed Couturier atop the crease for an easy goal.

Kuz comes through

Assistant coach Rocky Thompson said of Andrei Kuzmenko on Thursday, “I think he will help it. Yeah, without a doubt.” The “It” was the power play and, prophetically, he was right.

The Russian winger, acquired on Jan. 31 from the Calgary Flames, notched his first with the Flyers on the man advantage. Laughton told The Philadelphia Inquirer on Friday that he thought Kuzmenko could “bring that really good release from the slot.”

Well, on the goal, he didn’t have time to fire one off — but he was in the slot. Sitting in the bumper, Kuzmenko redirected a pass from Travis Konecny past Skinner.

Breakaways

Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen returned after missing three games with an upper-body injury. He notched an empty-netter. ... Forward Jakob Pelletier made his Flyers debut. He was acquired from the Flames with Kuzmenko. ... Travis Sanheim and Konecny skated on Saturday after winning the 4 Nations Face-Off with Canada on Thursday. Their Canada teammate Connor McDavid also played for Edmonton. ... Forward Ryan Poehling returned to the lineup after suffering a head injury on Jan. 16.

Up next

The Flyers host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Center. On Sunday, the Flyers will host the 46th annual Flyers Charities Carnival.