Philadelphia Flyers lose 5-2 to Avalanche

The Philadelphia Flyers headed to Colorado looking for their second win on the new season.

The Philadelphia Flyers played well in their season opening victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, and faced off against the Colorado Avalanche in hopes of winning their second game of the year. The Flyers haven’t started a season with two wins and zero losses since the 2011-12 season, who also started 3-0 that year.

Brian Elliott started in-net for the Flyers, with Calvin Pickard backing-up against his former team. The 1st period started off with some back-and-forth action. Colorado struck first on a goal from Colin Wilson. Elliott made a couple of saves before Wilson came in and put the rebound away. The Flyers struck back later after Claude Giroux sprung Travis Konecny on a breakaway. Semyon Varlamov made the save, but Sean Couturier cleaned up the rebound making the game 1-1.

After a blown power-play opportunity from the Flyers, Christian Folin turned the puck over in his own zone and it lead to a Samuel Girard assisted goal from J.T. Compher. Folin struggled the entire period and looked slow once again. The Flyers had another power-play opportunity on a Compher slashing penalty, but managed to put up zero shots with the man advantage. Colorado also had the shots on goal advantage, leading 14-12.

James van Riemsdyk blocked a shot off his leg towards the end of the first period and didn’t return to the game. The 2nd period started and the Flyers tied the game again. Mark Barberio slammed into Varlamov which coughed up the puck and allowed Mikhail Vorobyev to score his first NHL goal. Colorado took the lead right back after Gabriel Landeskog deflected a Nathan MacKinnon shot passed Elliott for the goal. Elliott kept the Flyers alive throughout the period, though, making plenty of huge saves in the period to keep the deficit at one.

The Flyers started the third period with a great power-play opportunity, notching five shots on goal, but Varlamov stood tall. They boasted a nine-to-two shots advantage early on in the third, and put the pressure on Colorado. A costly too many men penalty halted the Flyers momentum midway through the period. Seconds before killing the penalty, Folin took a hooking minor and gave the Avalanche 16 seconds of a two man advantage. Colorado took advantage, and Wilson scored his second goal of the game. An empty net goal from MacKinnon sealed the deal and the Avalanche won 5-2.

The Flyers are now 1-1 on the season and play the San Jose Sharks in their home opener on Tuesday night.