Recap: Avalanche desperately hang on for win against Flyers

It wasn’t pretty in the end, but two points is two points.

They just did enough.

The Colorado Avalanche opened up its four-game road trip out East with a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night. It was a little too close for comfort after having a 3-0 lead, but the Avs just did enough to hold off the hard-charging home team.

Colorado now moves back above .500 with a 10-9 record. While it’s early on in the season, it’s important they get all the points they can in what has been a lackluster start. Here’s how it all went down!

First Period

The Avs started off well, cycling the puck around the Flyers zone for a few shifts and creating some momentum. But they couldn’t get anything into the back of the net and lost some of the momentum when Josh Manson accidentally clashed with referee Mitch Dunning. It caused a long delay as he was tended to, and eventually stretchered off the ice.

Even after, the Avs still went forward. Logan O’Connor continued to be snake bitten, as he worked in down low, all for his shot to find the bar and go out of play. Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin turned back the clock with a great passing play, all for Travis Sanheim to block Drouin’s shot toward an empty net.

At the other end of the ice, Justus Annunen wasn’t met with as many Grade-A chances but stood tall when called upon. He’d face a couple of penalty kills when Mikko Rantanen went off for slashing, and MacKinnon for holding to end the period, but kept it out to keep it scoreless.

Second Period

Colorado got an early look on the power play with a Garnet Hathaway interference call, but it ended up being a scare at the other end. Cale Makar’s stick snapped in his hands with the puck, gifting a practically 2-on-0.5 for the Flyers the other way shorthanded, which luckily missed the net.

While the Avalanche couldn’t convert on the power play, Makar would get his redemption. He would be fed a brilliant pass from MacKinnon to streak in down the slot and put it top corner to give his team the lead.

Makar got what he thought was his second of the game from nearly the same spot through traffic and in. But after John Tortorella challenged it for goaltender interference, Jonathan Drouin’s intrusion in the blue paint was enough to call off the goal.

disallowed goal

But once again, Makar would not have to wait long to respond. The young Philadelphia rookie Matvei Michkov would drag down fellow Russian Valeri Nichushkin for a holding penalty, leading to Makar’s “third” of the game – his second legal goal – to double the lead heading into the final 20 minutes.

Third Period

After an early injury scare for Makar after blocking a shot which drew a crowd, it led to several penalties to open the period. Miles Wood and Owen Tippett went off for matching roughing minors, giving the goaltenders some more work with great saves.

MacKinnon would be given four minutes for tripping and an ensuing unsportsmanlike conduct, which was luckily equaled out by a Bobby Brink high-sticking call. Helge Grans in his NHL debut for the Flyers would give the Avs a 4-on-3, which was converted on by Casey Mittelstadt right in front for some insurance with a 3-0 lead.

It was a good thing there was some insurance because the Flyers would get on the board late on. Tippett fooled Annunen, who wasn’t expecting the shot from the high slot, and beat him to get the home team on the board. Just moments later, Tyson Foerster would get behind Annunen who thought he was sitting on the puck to put it home and make it a one-goal game.

It would be a completely different ball game in the final five minutes, where the Avs hung on for dear life while the Flyers threw everything at the net. They came close several times, but it wasn’t enough as the visitors would take all two points.

Takeaways

Makar’s greatness was what really led the Avs forward on offense, with his two goals – and another which was disallowed. Not only was he great going forward, but was big on defense. Particularly, when his stick broke while shorthanded which gave the Flyers a 2-on-1, he laid out to create a less high-danger chance. He was one of many who had a great night in Philly.

Annunen can also be added to that list. Overall, he was good until the third period. He ended the night with 24 saves and shut them down for most of the night. It ended up being closer than he wished, but looking back at some of the key saves early on, they ended up being the difference. It’s important he keeps rolling, as Alexandar Georgiev has been retroactively placed on injured reserve. He did skate this morning after morning skate and possibly could play on Thursday. If he can’t go though, it’s Annunen’s net for the time being and he has to live up to the expectations.

Before the game, Avalanche legend Erik Johnson was honored after he played his 1000th NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. While it didn’t come tonight as some had thought, they did celebrate this honor before the start of the game. It was lovely to see tributes from several Avs players, including a nice surprise and reconnection with captain Gabriel Landeskog. While EJ’s night didn’t go as he’d hoped for his team, no one can take away his legendary career with 1000 games and celebrate it with his former team. Congrats to the Condor!

Upcoming

The East Coast road trip continues against the Washington Capitals on Thursday night. Puck drop is at 5:00 p.m. MT.