Flyers Outlasted By Avs, Fall Short 3-2

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The Philadelphia Flyers (15-9-3) made a strong push in the third period against the best team in the NHL, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough.

Despite a flurry of third period shots, they fell short to the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Sunday. The Flyers entered the game with six wins in their last eight games. Despite getting an early lead, the Avalanche got goals from defenseman Brent Burns and Brock Nelson to put the Flyers behind by the end of the first period.

Colorado would add to their lead when Valeri Nichushkin scored on a one timer to make it 3-1. After winger Travis Konecny scored to cut the lead to one goal, the Avalanche were able to hold off several Philadelphia opportunities to ensure a successful back-to-back weekend.

The visiting Avalanche had their remarkable 17 game point streak snapped on Wednesday by the New York Islanders in a 6-3 loss. However, they rebounded on Saturday with a 3-2 overtime win over the New York Rangers. Sunday’s game was their third game in four days, while the Flyers were playing their first game since Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.

Of note, both center Sean Couturier and defenseman Nick Seeler reached NHL games played milestones. The team captain reached his 900th game, coincidentally on his 33rd birthday, and celebrated by scoring the Flyers opening goal. Seeler played in his 400th game.

Flyers Game Summary

Pregame

Prior to Sunday’s game, the Flyers announced that defenseman Ty Murchison had been recalled from the Leigh Valley Phantoms. With Cam York day-to- day with an upper body injury, Murchison was added as the extra has played 21 games with a goal and four points. He skated during pregame, but did not play.

Lineup-wise, head coach Rick Tocchet remained static with his lineup, using the same group from Wednesday’s game. That included Samuel Ersson, starting his second consecutive game.

Forwards:
Trevor Zegras-Christian Dvorak-Travis Konecny
Matvei Michkov-Sean Couturier-Owen Tippett
Nikita Grebenkin-Noah Cates-Bobby Brink
Nicolas Deslauriers-Rodrigo Abols-Garnet Hathaway

Defense:
Nick Seeler-Travis Sanheim
Emil Andrae-Jamie Drysdale
Egor Zamula-Noah Juulsen

Goalie:
Samuel Ersson
[Daniel Vladar]

First Period

The Flyers were able to take an early 1-0 lead at 2:09. Couturier was able to get a deft deflection of a Noah Juulsen slap shot from the point past Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood at the left post. However, Colorado was able to tie things up when defenseman Brent Burns fired a whip shot from above the left circle that bear Ersson.

Late in the period, with Noah Juulsen off for tripping, the Avalanche took the lead. Brock Nelson was able to get a second swipe on an initial jam shot chance by Nathan MacKinnon at the left post. The puck just squirted under Ersson to give Colorado a 2-1 lead at 19:08. Shots were 12 to 3 for the Avalanche.

Second Period

Colorado increased their lead to two goals early in the second period. Winger Valeri Nichushkin whips home a one timer on perfect cross ice feed from Victor Olofsson at 1:47. Defenseman Devon Toews started the play out of the neutral zone to chip the puck up to Olofsson.

The Flyers were able to cut their lead to 3-2 at 5:58. Travis Konecny on the breakaway beats Blackwood five hole. Following a near odd man chance that defenseman Josh Manson couldn’t finish, defenseman Emil Andrae got the puck past Brock Nelson to Konecny at the Avalanche blueline.

After that, Konecny almost got another break-in goal after a weird carom that he took advantage of. He broke in on Blackwood held him off after a couple of whacks at the puck.

Despite a slashing penalty on Trevor Zegras, the Flyers were able to stave off the Avalanche power-play following a pair of uncharacteristic puck carry errors by Cale Makar. But later in the period, the Flyers were also struggling in the puck management as they gave up two or three turnovers in their own zone that led to Avs chances.

Subsequently, the Flyers’ fourth line got some pressure in the Avalanche end. As a result, Garnet Hathaway draws a slashing call on Martin Necas as the period closed out. The Avalanche outshot the Flyers 13-9 for the period.

Third Period

The Flyers started the third period with 1:53 of power-play time. While they weren’t able to do anything with it, it became apparent that Colorado did not have alot of jump in their skates and Philadelphia pressed for the equalizer.

Perhaps there wasn’t a better chance than Trevor Zegras fighting off Nathan MacKinnon on a break to draw a penalty shot. However, Blackwood was to deny the Flyers wing to keep Colorado’s one goal lead.

That stated, Philadelphia continued to apply pressure throughout the remainder of the period, including a close tip-in by Christian Dvorak and a wrap around chance by Travis Konecny with 2:44 remaining. However, they were unable to get the puck past Blackwood. Despite pulling Ersson with just under two minutes to play, the Flyers couldn’t get a shot on goal.

Final period shots were 14-3 for Philadelphia (28-26 Colorado overall)

3 Takeaways, Powered By New Balance of Mount Laurel

1. Andrae Relished Playing Avs

It’s somewhat understandable for a younger team like the Flyers to see a team like the Avalanche, with a host of top level talent, and be “overly respectful.”

Emil Andrae took the opposite tact. Of all the Flyers players, he seemed to relish playing the league’s best team. He made the Avalanche pay for an odd man rush by finding Konecny up ice for the Flyers second goal, picking up an assist. Andrae knifed in to disrupt a number of Avalanche offensive forays, including a huge rush break-up on forward Ross Colton. He also nearly converted a dangerous chance off a drop pass from Owen Tippett.

“He took what we call “the good ice,” Tocchet said. “He’s wasn’t looking to defer. He was being aggressive. It’s a good step for Emil, to play against the top team in the league and do what he did. Good for him.”

2. Ersson Not Perfect But Kept Flyers In Game

There were more than a few eyebrows raised when Sam Ersson emerged from the Flyers hallway and took the ice as their starter against Colorado. The team and Ersson’s teammates have been careful not to call Daniel Vladar the number one goaltender. However, the Czech goalie has received most of the critical starts so far this season.

That said, Tocchet tapped the Swedish goalie for his second straight start after his performance in Wednesday’s game. And he was pretty succinct in his reasoning.

“Because he played good the last game. I thought he deserved it. I thought he played well.”

Ersson gave up three goals, including somewhat stoppable shots from Brent Burns and Valeri Nichushkin, though more the latter than the former. Even so, he was a big reason why Colorado was unable to pull away from the Flyers. He made some big saves, most notably on a Victor Olofsson breakaway chance in the second period.

Will he get a third start on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks? We’ll see.

3. Shootout Ace Zegras Now 0-for-2 on Penalty Shot Attempts

It’s been well-established how otherworldly Trevor Zegras is in shootouts. He holds the highest career conversion percentage with a minimum of 20 or more attempts at 68 percent (17 for 25). He is four for four in shootout attempts for the Flyers this season.

However, when it comes to in-game penalty shots, Zegras has been decidedly human. He has had two attempts this season and hasn’t converted either.

As a result, Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood took no chances in stopping Zegras latest attempt, as he told NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman.

“That’s a great challenge,” Blackwood said. “He’s a hell of a penalty shooter. That guy’s skills are next level. But I had in the back of my mind, I was thinking: just try to be patient. Make him make all the moves and don’t chase him around, trying to wait him out.”

It worked.