Matvei Michkov out vs. Ducks with a foot injury
Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said the winger's X-rays were negative but that he has some swelling after taking a pass off the foot during Saturday's game in Edmonton.
The Flyers returned home to the friendly confines of their training center in Voorhees after a solid 3-2-0 road swing, one that included three stops in Western Canada.
But they are a man down Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks (7 p.m., NBCSP) with Matvei Michkov out due to injury. The Flyers announced before puck drop that Michkov is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Earlier in the day, coach Rick Tocchet said Michkov, who did not practice Monday but returned to the ice for an optional morning skate Tuesday, was a game-time decision with a foot injury.
“Mich had an X-ray that was negative yesterday. He’s got a little bit of swelling, but he’s going to skate. It’d probably be a game-time decision on him,” Tocchet said on Tuesday.
It’s worth noting that Michkov stayed on the ice late Tuesday with the expected healthy scratches, so that indicated he was unlikely to play tonight.
According to Tocchet, the winger took a puck off his foot on Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers. “We didn’t know until [Monday],” Tocchet said.
It appears to have happened Saturday during the Flyers’ power play in the third period of their 5-2 win. Skating in the neutral zone, Trevor Zegras went to zing a cross-ice pass to Christian Dvorak standing at the opposite end of the blue line. Instead, the pass attempt went off the left skate of Michkov as he skated by. Michkov picked up his leg and seemed to wince after the contact.
The apparent injury happened seven seconds into a one-minute power-play shift by Michkov. The 21-year-old winger did skate two more shifts, including a 43-second shift that started with 70 seconds left in the game.
Michkov has nine goals and 23 points in 40 games this season, with his best game coming against the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 30. He had the secondary assist on Bobby Brink’s goal, the eventual game-winner against the Oilers, when he took his time and hit Cam York as he skated down the middle. York’s shot went in off the leg of Brink.
It is the first time in his NHL career that he will miss a game due to injury. Michkov was a healthy scratch for two games last season under then-coach John Tortorella.
Breakaways
The Pittsburgh Penguins waived former Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula on Monday for the purpose of terminating his contract, and he cleared on Tuesday. Zamula, who was traded by the Flyers last week, was suspended by the Penguins for refusing to report to the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. An unrestricted free agent, Zamula signed a one-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.