NHL Preview Game 40: Philadelphia Flyers vs. Colorado Avalanche
By Andrew Dill
Dec 23, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) congratulated by his team on the bench after scoring a goal during the first period against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Avalanche are coming off of a 5-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on New Years Eve, and look to continue their winning ways on their seven-game home stand against the Philadelphia Flyers.
What: Philadelphia Flyers (20-16-4) vs. Colorado Avalanche (24-11-4).
When: Thursday, January 2nd
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Time: 9:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM MT
TV: Altitude Sports
Last Meeting:
The last time the Philadelphia Flyers and Colorado Avalanche met was December 19th, 2011 where the Avs came away with the win, 3-2 via shootout. This is the first of two games that the teams will play each other in this season.
Now:
The Colorado Avalanche’s power-play has under-achieved this year and rightfully so. They recently went on a 1-for-37 stretch but have come on of late. The team is 7-for-15 in their last fifteen power-play chances, and went a perfect 3-for-3 in their win over Columbus on Tuesday night. However, they are catching the Philadelphia Flyers at the wrong time. The team is 6-1-1 in their last eight games, including four-straight wins.
Who’s Hot
Colorado Avalanche:
Gabriel Landeskog: Landy has three goals and two assists in the Avs last four games.
Philadelphia Flyers:
Scott Hartnell: Hartnell has scored two times in the Flyers last three games after being scoreless in the team’s previous nine games.
Projected Starting Goaltenders:
Coloado Avalanche:
Semyon Varlamov: 17-8-4, 2.38 GAA, .926% save percentage.
Philadelphia Flyers:
Steve Mason: 16-9-4, 2.38 GAA, .922% save percentage.
Last Ten Games:
Colorado Avalanche: 4-2-4
Philadelphia Flyers: 7-2-1
Incase you missed it. Colorado Avalanche center Paul Stastny was named to Team USA’s Olympic Hockey Team following the Winter Classic on New Years Day. Erik Johnson was considered a favorite to make the team but came up short. We will have to await the fate of center Matt Duchene, as Team Canada is set to release their roster on January 7th. Here is the link to the entire USA Hockey Team’s roster.
Injury Wire:
Philadelphia Flyers:
Erik Gustafsson, D (knee) OUT. Matt Read, F (upper body) and Nicklas Grossmann (lacerated chin) QUESTIONABLE
Colorado Avalanche:
Alex Tanguay, F (knee/hip) and P.A. Parenteau, F (knee) OUT.
Team Leaders:
Points:
Philadelphia Flyers: Claude Giroux, 37.
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene, 36.
Goals:
Philadelphia Flyers: Wayne Simmonds, 12.
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene, 16.
Assists:
Philadelphia Flyers: Claude Giroux, 26.
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene, 20.
Penalty Minutes:
Philadelphia Flyers: Zac Rinaldo, 92.
Colorado Avalanche: Cody McLeod, 74.
Shots on Goal:
Philadelphia Flyers: Claude Giroux, 114.
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene, 114.