Game 57 Preview: Colorado Avalanche (36-15-5) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (28-23-6)
By Andrew Dill
Feb 3, 2014; Newark, NJ, USA; The Colorado Avalanche celebrate a game winning goal by Colorado Avalanche center Ryan O
The Colorado Avalanche (36-15-15) are coming off of a lackluster performance on a back-to-back against the New York Rangers. Colorado’s goaltender Semyon Varlamov let in two first period goals to Ryan Callahan but not all the blame was on Varly. The Rangers would out shoot the Avs in the game 43-28 as they simply couldn’t get anything going. They look to get back to their winning ways tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers.
What: vs.
When: Thursday, February 6th
Where: Wells Fargo Center
Time: 7:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM MT
TV: Altitude Sports
This is the second and final meeting between the two clubs this season as the Colorado Avalanche took the first game on Jan. 2nd by the final score of 2-to-1. Semyon Varlamov shut the door on the Flyers as he earned first star honors saving 28-of-29 shots, .967% save percentage. Forwards Jamie McGinn and Ryan O’Reilly would collect the two goals in the win, Matt Duchene earned 2nd star honors with an assist.Wayne Simmonds of the Flyers would score their lone goal.
This game will be Maxime Talbot‘s welcome back to the City of Brotherly Love. Maxime Talbot was traded to the Colorado Avalanche for Steve Downie on October 31st. Talbot was a fan favorite and should receive a nice ovation from the crowd.
Meanwhile, the captain Gabriel Landeskog is on fire for the Avalanche. He has a seven-game point streak going as he has 3 goals and 6 assists during that period. For the Flyers, Claude Giroux has 9 points in the teams last five games, collecting 4 goals and 5 assists.
Injury Report:
Colorado Avalanche:
Cory Sarich (back): out
Alex Tanguay (knee) questionable
Paul Stastny (ankle) questionable
Central Division Standings:
1: Chicago Blackhawks: 35-10-14, 84 points. 59 games
2: St. Louis Blues: 37-12-6, 80 points. 55 games
3: Colorado Avalanche: 36-15-5, 77 points. 56 games
4: Minnesota Wild: 30-21-7, 67 points. 58 games
5: Dallas Stars: 26-21-10, 62 points. 57 games
6: Winnipeg Jets: 28-25-5, 61 points. 58 games
7: Nashville Predators: 25-23-9, 59 points. 59 games
Projected Starting Goaltenders:
Colorado Avalanche: Semyon Varlamov: 28-10-5, 2.49 GAA, .924% save percentage.
Philadelphia Flyers: Steve Mason: 22-14-5, 2.53 GAA, .916% save percentage.
Team Leaders:
Points:
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene – 48
Philadelphia Flyers: Claude Giroux – 55
Goals:
Colorado Avalanche: Ryan O’Reilly – 21
Philadelphia Flyers: 2 tied – 18
Assists:
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene – 31
Philadelphia Flyers: Claude Giroux – 37
Plus/Minus:
Colorado Avalanche: 2 tied – +13
Philadelphia Flyers: Scott Hartnell – +5
Shots on Net:
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene – 168
Philadelphia Flyers: Claude Giroux – 153