The Philadelphia Flyers were excited to sign Russian forward Matvey Mitchkov to an entry-level contract. The team’s first-round pick in 2023 was expected to continue playing in the KHL for a few more years before heading to North America, but he defied those expectations by not joining the Flyers this year. Selected.
The Flyers are wasting no time getting their top rookie deeply involved. He has played at least 18 minutes on the ice through the team’s first three games, including a spot on the team’s top power play unit. As a result, the rookie phenom found early success, scoring his first NHL career goal against the Edmonton Oilers.
Mitchkov’s efforts were rewarded with this tally. About a minute into the team’s man advantage, forward Owen Tippett took a backhand shot to Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, but Skinner had trouble corralling the spilled puck. Officials let the players resolve the issue, allowing Mitchkov to pounce on Skinner and poke the puck in behind him for his first career goal.
Of course, Matvei’s first @NHL Goals come from behind the net. #PHIvsEDM | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/dgGjyikmxn
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHL Flyers) October 16, 2024
Not only did Mitchkov score his first NHL career goal against the Oilers, he also scored his first two goals. Late in the first period, Mitchkov’s shot on the power play once again became the talk of the town. Mitchkov received a pass from Morgan Frost as he dropped toward the goal line and fired a one-time shot past Skinner.
Welcome to the show. #PHIvsEDM | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/SDMRCwC1js
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHL Flyers) October 16, 2024
Mitchkov, 19, hopes his first goal is just the beginning of a Calder Trophy-winning rookie season. So far, he’s been fine with the style of play the NHL requires and has been doing very well. He gives the Flyers a bonafide top-six scorer and has gotten even better as he learns the NHL ways. With his first two goals of his career, Mitchkov is looking to become one of the top rookies in the league while helping Philadelphia contend for a playoff spot.
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