The Philadelphia Flyers (8-9-2) surged in the third period, pressing to complete a comeback versus the Colorado Avalanche, but fell short in regulation, 3-2.
Helge Grans took his rookie lap, making his NHL debut. The Flyers celebrated Erik Johnson before the opening faceoff. Philadelphia rode a wave of momentum before hosting a relatively evenly-matched team. They were underdogs on home ice, but as the score showed, not by much.
If the Flyers were to take advantage of the Avalanche, it would have to be on special teams. Philadelphia did not have the front line to defend versus Colorado. Then, when the opportunity presented itself on special teams, they shot themselves in the feet at every step.
A loss put the Flyers behind the New York Islanders in the NHL Metropolitan Division. The Avalanche, however, move into an NHL Wildcard position in the first quarter of the 2024-2025 season.
Alexei Kolosov and Justus Annunen went head-to-head.
First Period
Shots on Goal: 10-8, Avalanche
Score: 0-0
Josh Manson took the first shot of the game, gloved by Kolosov. Answering on the attack, Travis Konecny kept with the puck in the offensive zone. His checking was relatively consistent throughout the game. Konecny found Sean Couturier skating in, but Annunen answered with a save.
There was an early break in the action after a scary collision between Manson and Mitch Dunning. It did not seem as if Manson was pursuing anything in particular, and there was a lot of space around Dunning to avoid the contact. Dunning went to a hospital for precautionary measures. After being stretchered off the ice, NHL Public Relations advised Dunning had normal neurological signs, was fully communicative, and could move all extremities. Three officials completed the rest of the game between Philadelphia and Colorado.
“I didn’t even see it, but I believe the report I got on my desk after the game; we were concerned that he [Dunning] was struggling with it [his extremities]. He didn’t have any feeling in his arms, that’s what was told to me, but I think he’s okay.” – John Tortorella; 11/18/2024
Turnovers put pressure on Kolosov. The Flyers were sloppy in the defensive zone. Jonathan Drouin took a shot in close, but the puck deflected off Travis Sanheim and off target. The Avalanche got the larger share of scoring chances in the first period.
Mikko Rantanen served a minor penalty for slashing. Almost as quickly as Philadelphia went on the powerplay, Tyson Foerster negated the man advantage, serving a minor for high-sticking. On the night, the Flyers finished 0/3 (0%) on the powerplay.
However, Philadelphia did successfully kill an abbreviated penalty kill. Neither team allowed damage in the first period.
Second Period
Shots on Goal: 19-13, Avalanche
Score: 2-0, Avalanche
Konecny continued to check in the offensive and defensive zones. Those efforts bought opportunities to stretch passes through the neutral zone in transition. Egor Zamula made a couple of eye-opening passes, particularly to Matvei Michkov. Michkov tried to shoot from the extended goal line, akin to his game-winner against the Ottawa Senators, but Annunen made the save.
Garnet Hathaway served a minor penalty for interference. Foerster looked good on this penalty kill but could not finish shorthanded scoring chances. Scott Laughton and Foerster had Cale Makar outnumbered in a two-on-one where Makar was without a stick. Laughton got the puck to Foerster, but the finish was not there.
Makar did put Colorado on the board. Devon Toews entered the zone, getting the puck to Nathan MacKinnon. MacKinnon fed the puck to Makar in the slot, who buried the shot past Kolosov, 1-0, with 11:30 remaining in the second period.
Hemmed in the defensive zone, the Avalanche were well in control. Drouin was in the crease, fighting for position with Rasmus Ristolainen. Makar did score, but John Tortorella challenged goaltender interference. The successful challenge thwarted a hat-trick bid for Makar.
Michkov served a minor penalty for holding. Tortorella thwarted a Makar hat trick because if he did not challenge, Makar would have secured three goals in the second period. Makar shot from the point, and the puck deflected off of Foerster, past Kolosov, 2-0, with 4:52 remaining in the second period. On the night, the Flyers finished 3/4 (75%) on the penalty kill.
Third Period
Shots on Goal: 29-26, Avalanche
Score: 3-2, Avalanche
Philadelphia looked faster in the third period. A theme from the Flyers is the late urgency, surging to get back into games before the deadline. Zamula fired a shot on goal, tipped toward the net by Hathaway. Additionally, there were more passes to find the man in space through the neutral zone.
“We played better as the game went on. Struggled with their quickness, but played better.” – John Tortorella; 11/18/2024
MacKinnon served a double-minor for tripping and unsportsmanlike conduct. His time spent in the penalty box should have opened the door for Philadelphia to get back into the game, but Grans and Bobby Brink committed penalties to strip away any special teams potential.
Casey Mittelstadt scored a four-on-four goal as Brink left the penalty box. Drouin split Johnson and Laughton with a pass to Rantanen, who fired his shot at Kolosov. Mittelstadt pounced on the rebound, 3-0, with 11:26 remaining in the third period.
Zamula exited the game. It seems like an upper-body injury for a team already riddled with injuries on defense. He did not return, unlike Foerster, who also was banged up.
Owen Tippett put the Flyers on the scoreboard. On the faceoff, Sanheim dipped his pass to Konecny, who found Tippett from the point, 3-1, with 9:12 remaining in the third period.
Foerster, who left with a bloody nose, returned to put Philadelphia within a goal of tying Colorado. Grans banked a shot off the back wall, and Brink made the first effort to stuff the puck past Annunen. The puck remained loose, and Foerster finished the play, 3-2, with 6:28 remaining in the third period.
Tippett came within inches of tying the game after Tortorella pulled Kolosov, but the Avalanche held on in the third period. Mittelstadt scored the game-winner.
Up Next
Next, the Philadelphia Flyers host the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday, November 20th, at 7:30pm.
