Matvei Michkov has 10 of the Flyers' 39 goals, and Philadelphia still sits 30th in the NHL after last night's loss at the Rangers.
The Flyers are 4-10-4 with 12 points, eighth in the Metropolitan Division. Rick Tocchet's team has lost two straight, and the season is already asking hard questions about where the offense is supposed to come from.
For now, the answer is Michkov. He is at 18 games played with 10 goals, 3 assists and 13 points, and five of those goals have come on the power play. Michkov carrying a Flyers team stuck at 29th was already the story earlier this week, and nothing has changed.
One of his goals is a game-winner. That's the only one of the 4 wins he has directly decided, and it tells you how thin the margin has been.
Then there's the other side of the ledger. Michkov is a -11, and the team's goal differential is -22 with 61 goals against. A guy can't outscore that by himself.
Last night at Madison Square Garden he went without a point, finished with no shots on goal and played 15:56 in the 3-2 loss. The Flyers' goals came from Noel Acciari and Simon Benoit, which is nice for a night, but not a plan.
Zegras is the only other point-producer
Trevor Zegras is the one teammate keeping pace on the scoresheet. He has 14 points in 18 games, but only 4 goals, with the other 10 coming as assists.
So the two split the work in a way that looks good on paper. Michkov finishes, Zegras sets up, and together they have 27 points on a team that has scored 39 goals.
Zegras was on the ice for 19:48 last night and put three shots on goal, and he was a -1 for it. Michkov's plus-minus is far worse, but the problem isn't really either of them. The Flyers need a third and fourth source of offense, and they need it now, because the Flyers needing more than Zegras and Michkov has been obvious for weeks.
And the defensive end is the bigger issue. Even a Michkov hot streak can't cover 61 goals against, and Joseph Woll allowed three on 28 shots last night.
The road is where it falls apart most. Philadelphia is 1-6-1 away from home and 4-5-1 over its last 10.
The next test is Sunday, Nov. 8, at Calgary. The Flames are 7-8-1 and 24th in the league, and they host the Ducks tonight before the Flyers arrive, so Michkov gets a shot at a team that is also scuffling.
Quick hits
John Tavares figures he will be back in the Maple Leafs lineup tomorrow night against the Habs, according to Terry Koshan. That's good news for Toronto, and Tavares expecting to return for Leafs-Habs gives the top six a boost.
Michael Russo revealed that Jesper Wallstedt starts for the Wild tonight against the Sharks, with Calvin Pickard set to follow tomorrow. Minnesota is splitting the back-to-back, and the Wild's goalie plan for Sharks and Lightning is out.
John Gibson was back at Red Wings practice today, Helene St. James reported, days after leaving Tuesday's game at Tampa Bay with a lower-body issue. Detroit will take any sign of progress, and Gibson's return to Red Wings practice is one.
