Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
Before the puck dropped tonight the Flyers payed tribute to defenseman Erik Johnson to celebrate his 1,000th NHL game. It was very fitting that the ceremony took place before facing Colorado where he spent 13 seasons as a member of the Avalanche. Johnson’s NHL career began in St. Louis in 2007.
With Emil Andrae and Cam York both on the injured list Helge Grans played his very 1st NHL game tonight. Alexei Kolosov got the start in net for the Flyers. Ivan Fedotov was on the bench as Samuel Ersson is also still missing from the line-up.
Philly vs Colorado
These two teams were pretty well matched coming in, Flyers 8-8-2 and Colorado at 9-9-0. Once the puck dropped things did not look so close to even. The first two periods featured a whole lot of Colorado with the puck in the Flyers end. The Flyers were unable to sustain any prolonged pressure. The chances they created were mostly “one and done” with the puck returning to the Philadelphia zone for more Colorado possession time.
During the 1st period Colorado’s Josh Manson had a collision with an on ice official at the Flyers blue line. The official, Mitch Dunning, went down to the ice and was obviously in sever discomfort. It was not a high speed impact. It just caught him the wrong way. The game was postponed for several minutes and Dunning was eventually taken out on a stretcher. No one wants to see something like that happen.
Cale Makar
The Flyers managed to stay in a scoreless tie for the first period and a half. Colorado’s chances were more dangerous and their attack time and puck possession were way out front, but the score was still tied at zero. Alexei Kolosov had made a number of good saves. Travis Sanheim made a spectacular one. But the way things were going it was only a matter of time till the Avalanche got on the board.
Cal Makar took a pass and fired the puck from the top of the slot. It was a strong snap shot that beat Kolosov glove side 8:31 into the 2nd period.
Less than two minutes later at 9:15 Makar took virtually the same shot from the same spot and got the same result. This goal was disallowed after review for goaltender interference. It was a generous call in favor of the Flyers keeping the score at 1-0.
With just under five minutes left in the 2nd period and Colorado on the power-play Makar again with the puck in the high slot. This time his shot deflected off Tyson Foerster’s skate and beat Kolosov through the five hole.
Third Period
The Flyers were only down two to nothing coming into the final period. They needed something to get back into this game. Owen Tippett got into a bit of a spat with Miles Wood and they both got two minutes for roughing. Just before that time ran out on those penalties the Flyers got a big break. Nathan MacKinnon was called for tripping Travis Sanheim. He also received a double minor for unsportsmanlike conduct. This put the Flyers on a brief 4-on-3 then almost four full minutes of 5-on-4.
Before the first penalty expired Bobby Brink took a high-sticking penalty that put the squads back to 4-on-4. Then Helge Grans took a holding penalty that gave Colorado the man advantage 4-on-3. The Flyers skated Sanheim, Cates, and Ristolainen and managed to kill off the penalties.
Casey Mittelstadt popped a rebound up and over Alexei Kolosov at 8:34 to make it 3-0. The Flyers sagged. They looked deflated. Their passes weren’t connecting, shots were going wide. When they did get chances Justus Annuen was up to the challenge.
Comeback
With 8:12 left in regulation Owen Tippett scored the Flyers first goal. Travis Konecny got the puck off the faceoff and threw it into the slot for Tippett who fired it past Annuen glove side. High slot was definitely the featured spot of the night.
At one point during the third period Tyson Foerster left up the isle but returned to the ice. Igor Zamula did the same but did not return to the game. Flyers defensemen are dropping like flies.
With 6:28 left in the period Helge Grans fired the puck from the Colorado blue line. He shot it wide of the net off the backboards to put it in front of the net for Bobby Brink. Brink took the shot. The Avalanche goaltender appeared to swallow it up. The puck dropped behind him but still hidden between his legs. There was no whistle. Tyson Foerster scooped the puck out from between the netminders pads and into the net to bring the Flyers within one goal. The assist was Grans 1st NHL point.
The crowd was awake and suddenly the Flyers had a jump in their step. With about two minutes left Kolosov was pulled for the extra attacker. The Flyers created a few chances but could not pull off the comeback. It was too little too late to keep the Flyers five game point streak alive.
Next Up: Flyers play host to the Carolina Hurricanes Wednesday night at 7:30.
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