In the third game of a five-game road trip, the Philadelphia Flyers (21-32-11) are in Denver to take on the Colorado Avalanche (45-14-5) for the final time this season. The puck drops at 9pm.
Past Meetings:
This second and final meeting of the season between the two teams comes after their previous meeting back on December 6th. The Avalanche came out on top in a high-scoring game for both sides, 7-5, at the Wells Fargo Center. This was Mike Yeo’s first game as interim head coach for the Flyers.
Flyers Thursday Night Round-Up:
The Flyers come into this game after a stellar 5-2 road victory against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday evening. Two of the goals were netted by Travis Konecny, one by Hayden Hodgson in his NHL debut (who also notched an assist,) and the other two goals made by Patrick Brown and Joel Farabee (empty net.) Martin Jones got the start, making 26 saves to help the Flyers come out on top.
Avalanches Wednesday Night Round Up:
The Avalanche, who are 25-4-3 at home this season after a 3-1 loss at Ball Arena on Wednesday, were upset by the Vancouver Canucks. Colorado ranks second in the league averaging 6.5 assists per game, led by Nathan MacKinnon with 1.0. They meet the Flyers tonight in the last of their three-game homestand.
This and That:
The Flyers are 8-17-5 away from home ice. Thursday night’s game was their first on the road in 2022. Only the Montreal Canadiens score at a lower rate than Philadelphia. Cam Atkinson leads the team with 23 goals and Kevin Hayes (7G, 13A) has 11 points over the last 10 games for Philadelphia. The Flyers also face forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel (7G, 9A) tonight; he spent seven seasons with the Flyers before he was claimed off waivers by the Avalanche this season.
Carter Hart is expected to be in the net for Philadelphia tonight. He’s 13-20-7 with a 91% save percentage and has allowed just under three goals per game.
LINEUPS:
Colorado Avalanche
Nichushkin-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Burakovsky-Kadri-Compher
Newhook-Sturm-O’Connor
Cogliano-Helm-Aube-Kubel
Toews-Makar
Johnson-Manson
MacDermid-Johnson
Francouz
(Kuemper)
Philadelphia Flyers
van Riemsdyk-Farabee-Atkinson
Hodgson-Hayes-Konecny
Willman-Frost-Tippett
Lindblom-Brown-MacEwen
Provorov-York
Sanheim-Ristolainen
Yandle-Seeler
Hart
(Jones)
LAST 10 GAMES:
Avalanche: 5-4-1, averaging 2.7 goals, 4.8 assists, 4.2 penalties, and 10.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game with a .933 save percentage.
Flyers: 5-4-1, averaging 2.9 goals, 5 assists, 4 penalties, and 10.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game with a .917 save percentage.
INJURIES:
Flyers: Laughton (concussion,) and Thompson (shoulder.)
Avalanche: Gabriel (knee,) Girard (lower body,) Murray (hand/wrist,) and Byram (undisclosed.)
Props/Prediction
Kevin Hayes anytime score: +400
Nicolas Aube-Kubel anytime score: +360
COL money line: -400
Correct Final Score (including OT:) Flyers 2, Avalanche 5 (+1400)
(Photo Credit: Alex McIntyre)
