Flyers’ Matvei Michkov scratched ahead of Game 5 against Penguins

A noted player will be absent from the Philadelphia Flyers as they try to punch their ticket to the second round.

Ahead of Game 5 of the Metropolitan Division Semifinal between the Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night, forward Matvei Michkov was revealed to be a scratch.

The decision comes as no surprise, as the young Russian has struggled once the puck has dropped in the postseason. While the Flyers managed to jump out to a 3-0 lead on their in-state rival, Michkov has hardly been a factor in the series. He has registered a measly four shots on goal in the first four games of the series, and has a plus/minus of -1 while averaging a hair over 10 minutes of ice time per game.

The slump comes after another solid regular season for Michkov. While he failed to match the 63 points he scored during his rookie campaign, he still posted 20 goals and 31 assists for 51 points in 81 appearances, finishing fifth on the team in scoring. Even while there was the alleged rift between him and Tocchet, Michkov was still proving to be a solid player who undoubtedly has room for improvement in areas of his game.

With Michkov out, the Flyers will look to eliminate the Penguins for the second game in a row. Philly had a chance to knock out Sidney Crosby and company on home ice on Saturday, but a couple of miscues from goaltender Dan Vladar let the visitors stay alive with a 4-2 win, sending the series back to Pittsburgh. The Flyers are seeking their first playoff series win since 2020, and their first postseason clincher in a “normal” playoff since 2012, which came at the expense of the Penguins.

Puck drop for Game 5 in the Steel City is scheduled for a little after 7 p.m. ET.