Live Film Room: The Michkov Shifts That Won It in Vancouver

Four of the five plays I broke down live during the Flyers 3-1 win in Vancouver ran through Matvei Michkov. Put him with Porter Martone and Trevor Zegras and things happen. Get his feet moving and he makes the hard play. That is the case for more minutes, and it is all on film.

How this was made: These were live updates. I posted each clip on X as the game went on, and the live stuff always goes up on X first. This video is just a compilation of all five. I recorded every one of them before postgame, literally 3 to 5 minutes after each play happened. No hindsight and no box score. Just what I saw on the ice in the moment.

That matters for clip four. When I recorded it, none of us knew it was the shift right before Michkov and Nick Seeler blew up at each other on the bench. I posted it because it was a good clip to review and a strong defensive effort from Michkov. Want these live? Follow @BroadStBreakout on X on game nights.

Michkov, Martone and Zegras: a chance in 10 seconds

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1st period, 12:34

We don’t get to see Michkov and Martone with Zegras very often. In about 10 seconds together they get an immediate scoring chance. That is how fast this trio can tilt the ice, and it is a look I want to see a lot more of.

Michkov at speed as F1 opens it up for Cates

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1st period, 3:56

I talked about it pregame. I wanted to see Michkov get his feet moving, make more hard plays and find soft ice. I’ll certainly take this. He comes down with speed as F1 and doesn’t shy away. Instead of making the soft play and just going for the puck, he ties up the defenseman. That frees Martone to get the puck over to Noah Cates for a great scoring chance.

If Michkov and Martone play like this every shift, they will get more shifts from Rick Tocchet. Simple as that.

The second goal starts with an extended power play shift

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2nd period, power play

I really don’t want to come off as a Michkov fan boy here. This was my third breakdown of the night that he was part of. But on the Flyers second goal he deserves a ton of credit. It’s the little details. Watch how elite he is at maintaining possession. This goal happens because Zegras and Michkov take an extended shift on the power play and keep the puck alive until it opens up.

The shift before the Seeler blowup: Michkov’s backcheck

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2nd period, 8:56

I think you all saw this next clip coming. Martone, Zegras and Michkov get another shift together, and this one is much more obvious. Again, it is Michkov’s backchecking effort and his ability to find soft ice on the rush that leads to the scoring chance.

For the record, I posted this one before anyone knew what happened after it. I wasn’t reacting to the blowup with Seeler. I was looking at a winger who backchecked hard and then made something out of it going the other way.

Stop giving the puck away on the dump in

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3rd period, 9:47, Flyers up 2-1

The Flyers were headed to the box again and only up 2-1, and this is the kind of play that drives me absolutely crazy. They already have possession. Dumping it in and hoping to win a 1 on 2 is just giving it away. If they are being coached to dump this in, that absolutely has to change.

What I’d like to see moving forward

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• More Michkov, Martone and Zegras together. They got a few looks in Vancouver and created chances on them.
• Michkov attacking with speed as F1 every night, not just on a good night.
• Michkov’s minutes going up starting now, including defensive situations. I made the full case in my take on Michkov and the Weekes report.
• Keep possession with a lead. No more giving it away on a dump in and hoping to win a 1 on 2.

Which of these five plays stood out most to you? Should Tocchet keep Michkov, Martone and Zegras together? Let me know in the comments.

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Clips from the Flyers 3-1 win at Vancouver on Nov. 9, 2026. Each breakdown was recorded live 3 to 5 minutes after the play and posted first on X @BroadStBreakout.