Starting this month I’m going to be more concise with my analyses because a lot of times just watching one player, you’re not getting much action and it’s pretty tiring and repetitive to mention how great Michkov’s hockey IQ is.
November 2 vs Amur Khabarovsk
Michkov nearly had a hat trick this game. He nearly had a goal early into the game when he stole the puck in the offensive zone on a breakaway but shot it wide.
Then in the second period, Michkov had a beautiful spin-o-rama pass into the slot, but it couldn’t be buried. And then close call number two came later as Michkov would fire a wrister from the point and beat the goalie, but got the top right corner where the crossbar and post meet.
Michkov would find more luck in the third as he would pick up the lone Sochi goal. Michkov sent a beautiful pass from the corner, through the slot, right on the tape to his teammate who took the shot. Michkov circled around the net and got to the other side to pick up the rebound.
Michkov has 8 goals and 8 assists for 16 points in 19 games.
November 5 vs Avangard Omsk
Michkov and his line came out buzzing this game. Playing all over the ice, in a good way. Michkov didn’t waste too much time finding the scoresheet as he would take a pass in the slot before passing it over to a teammate for a one-time goal late in the first to put Sochi up 1-0.
The next period Michkov decided that didn’t just want an assist, but also a goal as he would snake down the left side with the puck on the power play and snipe a shot home on a pretty impressive angle by the bottom of the left circle to make the game 2-0.
Late in the third, Michkov set up a one-timer that almost led to a dirty goal around the paint, but the Avangard goalie kept the game tied. One thing I want to mention is how much Michkov and his line were out in the last 5 minutes of a tied game. Michkov and his line have earned the respect of Sochi’s coach for big moments.
Michkov also got the trust to start OT and had some good chances during his two shifts in OT, but Avangard would ultimately get the OT winner.
Michkov has 9 goals and 9 assists for 18 points in 20 games.
November 7 vs Salavat Yulaev
Nothing really to write home about this game. Michkov had some nice moves but was not able to find the scoresheet despite some good chances.
Michkov has 9 goals and 9 assists for 18 points in 21 games.
November 9 vs Dinamo Minsk
The battle of two Flyers prospects as Michkov’s Sochi takes on Alexei Kolosov’s Dinamo. Kolosov would get the start as well.
After a boring first period, Michkov would get Sochi on the board when his initial shot was blocked, but recovered the puck and beat Kolosov making the game 1-0.
He had several great attempts the rest of the game, but Kolosov was too much for Sochi.
Michkov has 10 goals and 9 assists for 19 points in 22 games.
November 10 vs Dinamo Minsk
The game would mainly be dominated by Minsk, especially considering they scored 4 unanswered goals until Michkov’s shot around halfway through the game was deflected getting Sochi on the board.
Michkov has 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 23 games.
November 13 vs HC Vityaz
The first period didn’t provide much action, but about four minutes into the second period, Michkov would find Khusnutdinov open for an easy tap-in goal.
Michkov would get boarded and looked pretty shaken up later in the second, but would come back and play in the third and would even attempt a lacrosse goal.
Michkov has 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in 24 games.
November 14 vs HC Vityaz
Michkov is determined to get a lacrosse goal this season. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much happening for Sochi and Michkov would not record a point.
Michkov had 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in 25 games.
November 16 vs HC Lada Togliatti
Michkov wasted no time opening up scoring with a tip-in goal just under 4 min into the game. Michkov would get a beautiful chance intercepting a pass and getting a hard shot, but the goalie would save it.
Michkov made another attempt at the Michigan in the early part of the second. Then just about 10 seconds later made a nice behind-the-back pass that led to a cross-crease pass that was so close to being a goal. Later in the second, Michkov would take a shot on the power play. The rebound would go almost right to the stick of his teammate who easily pots the goal giving Michkov his first assist, and second point, of the game.
In the third. Michkov would join a rush and it appeared that the puck hit off his stick before going to his teammate who would eventually score on a basically open net. This is Michkov’s second assist (both primary) and third point of the day.
Michkov nearly put the game away on his own about a minute into OT, but the goalie deflected his shot out of play. The last 45 seconds of OT were just highlights for Michkov. Made a move in the slot to try and get a shot off, but a defender got his stick to deflect it. Then he got a pass all alone in the slot, and tried to snipe it between the blocker and pad, but just missed wide. At the end of OT, he had a beautiful hip check.
Michkov would get to shoot fourth in the shootout for Sochi but did basically the same thing he did on the last shot he had in OT. But Sochi would get it done in the shootout.
Michkov has 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points in 26 games.
November 22 vs HC Sibir Novosibirsk
Michkov had a nice feed for Khusnutdinov, but he was robbed. This was probably the most noteworthy thing from this game in terms of Michkov.
Michkov has 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points in 27 games.
November 24 vs Admiral Vladivostok
Michkov is playing well. And he’s still continuing to be the most notable player for Sochi, but he’s not getting much help and seems to be trying to do it all himself. His best chance for a point came late in the third where he took a shot that wound up on Khusnutdinov’s stick and he missed a pretty easy shot.
Michkov has 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points in 27 games.
November 26 vs Amur Khabarovsk
With Michkov at the blue line on a 5-on-3 PP early in the second, Michkov would pass to his teammate who had his slap shot ripped to get Sochi on the board.
About 4 minutes later, Michkov would work his magic, weaving through players on the PP and sending a pass over to a teammate and he got the pass back, had it hit his skate, which went to his teammate, Khusnutdinov who made a cross-crease pass for a virtually open net, giving Michkov his second assist of the game.
Michkov has 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 28 games.
He scored 4 goals and 7 assists in 10 games during November.
By Noah Caplan (@Phlyers24)
Photo Credit: KHL
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