The Flyer’s southwest/east coast road trip swung through Denver last night. The defending champs were the opponent for the second time in 8 days. This time the venue was Ball Arena and the mile highness. The result was that the Flyers fell 3-2.
With the loss the Flyers (9-14-7) dropped to 0-1-2 on their four-game road swing and are now winless in 16 of their last 18 and haven’t won away from home since Nov. 5. Felix Sandstrom got the nod in net for the Flyers he was opposed by Pavel Francouz for the Avalanche.
The Game
For a change, it was the Flyers who got off to a fast start. Cam York at the 12:52 mark of the 1st made it 1-0 Flyers it was his 1st of the year. York is among those stable young Flyers players trying to prove their future worth to the organization.

The Avs would knot things up at the 9:25 mark of the second when Devon Toews scored his second of the year. The Avs would take the lead for good at the 15:25 mark of the second when Artturi Lehkonen would tally the shorthanded goal.
The third period was tight through the first half. Then at the 11:33 mark, J.T. Compher would give Colorado some insurance with his fourth goal of the season. JVR would make it interesting for the Orange and Black as he added his fourth of the season at the 16:22 mark. In the end, the Flyers just did not have enough horses in the barn to take down the Champs.

This and That
The Flyers outshot the Avs 28-25 for the game (on the season the Flyers have 880 shots for and 942 shots against). The Flyers were 0-2 on the power play (14-87 16% for the season),
Tony DeAngelo hasn’t played on the Flyers’ trip. He was a healthy scratch last Friday and has been unavailable the past two games for a family matter.

The Flyers were also missing Zack MacEwen, who was banged up Sunday night during the third period of the Arizona game.
Because of injuries, Colorado is missing key pieces, including star center Nathan MacKinnon (upper body) and captain Gabriel Landeskog (knee).
The Flyers didn’t get their first shot of the middle frame until 12-plus minutes had passed. They were outshot 9-4 in the period.

Sandstrom saw his first game action in 17 days. The 25-year-old didn’t show rust, made 22 saves on 25 shots, and gave the Flyers a good chance to win.
Avalanche backup Pavel Francouz stopped 26 of the Flyers’ 28 shots.

Matt Bednarczyk is your host of Talking Philly Sports With Matty B. He is a proud retired US Army Sergeant First Class, he is also a combat veteran with over 80 months served in Afganistan, and Iraq . Huge Hockey Fan. Matt is a lifelong 4 for 4 Philly sports fan. Born and raised on the Mayfair and Tacony neighborhood lines of Northeast Philly. He brings over 40 years of Philadelphia Sports passion and provides a realistic look at our Major Sports Teams and the most passionate sports fans on the planet. Look for his show live on Edge of Philly Sports.