Matvei Michkov plays the hero in Flyers' overtime win against Rangers

Gabriela Carroll, The Philadelphia Inquirer on Feb 26, 2026

Published in Hockey

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NEW YORK ― It appears all of that on-ice time during the NHL’s break for the Winter Games paid off for Matvei Michkov.

He scored not only the Flyers’ first goal of the game, but he also took a penalty to put the Flyers on the kill at the end of regulation, and then he came right out of the box and scored the overtime winner in a 3-2 win over the Rangers.

The Flyers were on the second leg of a back-to-back, and they looked it in the first period. The Rangers had them on their heels, dominating puck possession and smothering the Flyers’ breakout attempts.

But Sam Ersson held the fort down early, as the Flyers’ netminder made a few point-blank saves, including a high-danger shot from Adam Fox. But Sam Carrick flung a shot from along the boards at Ersson, and it slipped right through the five-hole, to go up 1-0.

The Flyers have now conceded the first goal 39 times this year in 58 games.

Hathaway tried to spark the Flyers late in the first with a fight after taking a boarding penalty on Brennan Othmann. But coming out of the break, the Rangers added to their lead with an early goal from Alexis Lafrienière, who beat Noah Cates in front of the net to bury a pass from Will Cuylle.

The Flyers got one back on the power play from Michkov, who scored his 14th of the season and third power-play goal. They outshot the Rangers in the second period 10-5.

And out of the second intermission, the Flyers kept that momentum going. Trevor Zegras sniped one over the shoulder of Igor Shesterkin under 40 seconds into the third period to tie the game at 2-2.

Cates had two point-blank opportunities in front of Shesterkin late in the third to take the lead on the power play, but couldn’t bury either chance.

Michkov’s goaltender interference penalty put the Flyers at a disadvantage to open the extra period, and the situation was made even worse after Rasmus Ristolainen lost his stick late into the penalty kill. But Michkov pulled the Flyers back out of the fire on a breakaway, firing one over the shoulder of Shesterkin for the win.

Breakaways

Emil Andrae drew into the lineup for the first time since Jan. 26. He played 11 minutes and 50 seconds.

Up next

The Flyers return to action on Saturday against the Boston Bruins.