Flyers Files: The Michkov Benching Chronicles

Welcome to another edition of Flyers Files, an exclusive podcast available only on 97.3 ESPN. Join 97.3 ESPN Flyers insider Kevin Durso and co-host Haley Taylor Simon as they break down the last week of Flyers hockey.

What a week it has been for the Flyers, with so much of it centered on Matvei Michkov. The rookie was benched for the most of the third period last Tuesday in Carolina, then sat out Thursday and Saturday as a healthy scratch.

In his return to the lineup on Monday against San Jose, Michkov scored on a breakaway, assisted on a power-play goal by Travis Konecny, and scored again in the shootout to help the Flyers to a 4-3 win. Then on Thursday against Ottawa, he capped off a comeback win with the overtime game-winning goal.

Not too bad from the 19-year-old.

Did the benching help? Was two games too much, not enough, or exactly what Michkov needed?

A pair of defensemen have stood out in a positive way in the last week. Travis Sanheim continues to emerge as a reliable defenseman who can handle the big minutes. And Emil Andrae has filled in nicely as an injury call-up for Cam York, continuing to earn more ice time. Should the Flyers go full-time with Andrae in the lineup even after York returns?

Finally, a look at the goaltending. While Sam Ersson returned with a shootout loss on Saturday and a shootout win on Monday, another possible injury may force the Flyers to take a much longer look at Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov. Kolosov was also on the shelf with an injury for most of the past week, while Fedotov has won his last two starts and shows signs of improvement.

Join Kevin and Haley for this episode of Flyers Files, which you can watch below:

Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on social media @Kevin_Durso.