Flyers Withstand The Avalanche; Win 3-1

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Michael Raffl’s third period goal that put the Flyers up 2-0 would turn out to be the game-winner, as Philadelphia would hang on to beat the Avalanche 2-1.

Mark Streit scored his eighth goal of the season, on the power play, in second period to give the Flyers an early lead. Steve Mason was strong in net for Philadelphia, stopping 38/39 pucks. The Flyers have now won three in a row and next play Calgary at home on Saturday.

Nathan MacKinnon scored Colorado’s lone goal late in the third period, his 21^st of the season. Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov was outstanding in net for the Avalanche, saving 32/34 shots. Colorado has now lost two in a row.

In a first period to forget, the Flyers escaped without allowing a goal. The story of the first period was turnovers and saves by Steve Mason. Outplayed by Colorado for the majority of the period, Mason was able to stop all 14 shots he faced.

Fortunes turned late in the first for the Flyers, as Brayden Schenn took a big hit from Avalanche forward Patrick Bordeleau. Bordeleau was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

The Flyers would end the first with a power play and begin the second with the power play on their side.

Early into the second period, Wayne Simmonds was sent to the box for hooking which ended the Flyers power play. Soon there after, the Philadelphia offense would wake up.

Philadelphia would pepper Varlamov with shot after shot, and the Colorado netminder kept the Orange and Black from netting the first goal of the game.

At the 5:46 mark of the second period, Colorado center John Mitchell was called for a hook that would give the Flyers their fourth power play of the game, and this time, the Flyers would capitalize.

Mark Streit netted his eight goal of the season on a blast from the blue line that appeared to change direction on the way towards the back of the net. Vincent Lecavalier and Sean Couturier were credited with the assists.

The rest of the period featured an outstanding goalie battle, as Mason and Varlamov traded big save after big save.

The second period was not without feistiness, as the two teams twice met together behind the Colorado net for some tough talk and shoves.

Philadelphia came out flatfooted in the third period, but Colorado failed to take advantage of the Flyers slow pace. As the game flowed back and forth, Philadelphia added an all-important insurance goal at the 7:05 mark of the period.

Sean Couturier found Michael Raffl alone in front of the net after a strong fore-check, where he freed the puck. Raffl deposited his seventh goal of the season, a goal that would turn out to be the game-winning goal.

Despite feeling dehydrated throughout much of the game, Mason would continue to come up big for the Flyers time and time again, continually stopping all Avalanche shots from all angles.

Late in the third period, Colorado rookie Nathan MacKinnon was able to beat the Flyers goaltender short side for his 21st goal of the season.

With 2:50 seconds remaining in the game after MacKinnon’s goal, the Flyers focused on protecting the net, while Colorado left theirs empty. 

Flyers captain Claude Giroux would ice the game with 19 seconds remaining, as he netted his 19^th goal of the season, an empty-netter, to send the Flyers to a 3-1 victory.

Game Notes: Michael Raffl is third on the team with three GWG…Giroux’s goal gave him the team lead with 19…Nathan MacKinnon added to his rookie leading point total (43) and goal total (21)…The Flyers 1 of 5 on the Power Play and killed off all three Colorado Power Plays.