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Matvei Michkov pulled off the Michigan just days after saying he’d leave them aside next season.
Matvei Michkov is having quite the summer over in his home country of Russia.
The Philadelphia Flyers phenom led his team to victory in the KHL 3×3 Fest last week, and he was impressing again in the NHL vs. KHL “Match of the Year” over the weekend. The charity game featured some of the best Russian players from each league, with the NHLers dominating en route to a 15-3 victory.
In a game that was mostly about showcasing some of the NHL’s Russian stars while raising money for charity, the players didn’t mind putting on a show. Of course, Michkov was among them.
Michkov wasn’t able to finish on any of his Michigan attempts during his rookie season, and recently told RG Media that he was done with lacrosse goals, saying that “one season was enough.”
Well, it looks like Michkov might be getting all of those Michigan attempts out of his system during the offseason. He got the puck onto the blade of his stick behind the net and tucked it above the pad of the netminder.
Matvei Michkov scored a lacrosse goal in the NHL vs KHL Russian stars charity game #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/diFhcVYS2z
Of course, the defensive effort in a charity game isn’t going to be the best, but it’s still exciting to see Michkov pull off the Michigan.
He had a few close calls last season, perhaps none closer than this one against the Red Wings in December.
MICHKOV ALMOST PULLED OFF A MICHIGAN pic.twitter.com/KyQXo949BN
He tried again against Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin later in the season. Michkov already had two goals in the game and went for the hat trick on a Michigan attempt.
Michkov went for the MICHIGAN HATTY and got stuffed 😭 pic.twitter.com/lO9tcpdI0w
A few days later, Ovechkin had high praise for Michkov but also said that he should “show off a little less.”
Michkov has had a knack to show up in games against his countrymen like Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin. He had that two-goal game against Washington and one against the Penguins as two of the seven games in which he scored twice last season.
Only time will tell if Michkov was speaking the truth when he said he’d stop attempting Michigan goals next season. Perhaps he was getting that quote out there to bait goalies, or perhaps he has some other tricks up his sleeve with newcomer Trevor Zegras. Even if he meant it, if Michkov has room behind the net and an opening to stuff it home? You have to think he’ll go for it.
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