Three Thoughts on the Flyers Shootout Win vs. Jets

The Philadelphia Flyers went to the home of the NHL’s best team Saturday night, and left with two points and a shootout win against the Winnipeg Jets.

Here are three thoughts (and a bonus) after the Flyers shootout win over the Jets.

To be completely honest, the Flyers had no business being in that game as long as they were, let alone winning.

The Winnipeg Jets are the NHL’s best team for a reason. They have an elite top forward line, a great blueline corps, and the best goalie in the world. Holding the Flyers to just one goal through three periods and five minutes of overtime should be enough to win the game–yet the Flyers walked out with the win.

They let the Flyers hang around all game. Philly played a great defensive game, and got a massive boost from Ivan Fedotov in net. The offense was not nearly good enough. The Flyers did not win that game, the Jets lost it.

Ivan Fedotov easily played his best game as a Philadelphia Flyer to date.

His 29-save night was filled with highlight reel saves. He came up big for the Flyers in a handful of critical moments, especially late in the game. Fedotov turned in 50 minutes of scoreless hockey after the Mark Sheiffele score.

The Flyers’ backup goalie position has been quite the problem this season. Before Saturday’s game, a Flyers backup goalie had not won a game since Aleksei Kolosov’s win on December 12th.

Fedotov’s best game of the season against the best team in the league has to be a confidence-builder.

Jamie Drysdale is starting to catch his groove in Philly. Since the start of the season, Drysdale has started to make strides in his development. But since the 4 Nations break ended, he really started to catch his groove.

After the Flyers’ 6-1 win over the Penguins, head coach John Tortorella said that Drysdale would not make it in this league if he decided to be a defensive defenseman. He then said he wanted to see Drysdale become more aggressive on offense.

Drysdale had yet another great offensive game on Saturday, scoring the Flyers’ lone regulation goal of the game. The young defenseman still has loads of untapped potential. Philly could truly unleash a monster if Drysdale can remain healthy.

News Flash: Matvei Michkov is highly skilled. I am almost 99% sure everyone knew this prior to Saturday, but in case you didn’t, just watch Michkov’s shootout-winner. I have never–and I mean NEVER, seen anyone freeze Connor Hellebuyck like that.

Although he did not appear on the score sheet for the game, Michkov’s impact was felt in the shootout win.

There is way too much to love about the Michkov shot. The quick hands at the end, the patience to hold the puck all the way to the blue, and even the head movement were fantastic. The only thing missing was an emphatic celebration.

Michkov and the Flyers will play next on Tuesday, March 4th when they host Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee, and the Calgary Flames.