Colorado Avalanche hold of Philadelphia Flyers, 2-1
By Andrew Dill
Dec 16, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche forwards Paul Stastny (left) and Matt Duchene (9) celebrate after the game against the Dallas Stars at Pepsi Center. The Avalanche won 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Avalanche earned their 25th win of the season Thursday night after defeating the Philadelphia Flyers at home by the final score of 2-1. McGinn and O’Reilly would score the two goals for the Avalanche, earning two points in the victory.
Jamie McGinn would be the first to score as the winger would score is 8th goal of the season as Erik Johnson and Matt Duchene picked up the assists. Johnson would make a nice play by stepping up and stealing the puck away. Here is what Jamie McGinn said about the play to Adrian Dater via The Denver Post:
"“I’ve got to give linemates credit there. E.J. (Erik Johnson) actually made a great play stepping up, breaking up a play, and Dutchy (Matt Duchene) came up the middle,” McGinn said. “I just picked up the loose change.”"
It was an evenly-matched game heading into the second period as Colorado Avalanche forward Ryan O’Reilly collected his 14th goal of the season on the assist from captain Gabriel Landeskog, putting the Avs ahead 2-0. About four-minutes later, Philadelphia Flyer Wayne Simmonds would shoot one past Varlamov, notching his 13th goal of the season, assisted by Scott Hartnell and Andrej Meszaros.
Semyon Varlamov would be dominant all night, despite letting up the lone goal to Simmonds. Varly made a lot of key saves in the game including one on former teammate Steve Downie who was traded earlier in the season for Maxime Talbot. The Avs would play cautious in the third period with the lead as they normally do. Varly would make yet another great save on Flyers Brayden Schenn late in the third period.
Here is more from Patrick Roy on The Denver Post:
"“The lesson is clear: We don’t want to be satisfied,” Roy said. “We want more. I think that’s the approach we try to have every day. (Today) is a new day and we have to be ready for San Jose (Saturday). We want to work even harder, and we want more. That’s the only way we’re going to be in the playoff picture at the end.”"
Three Stars:
3: Steve Mason (PHI): 29-of-31 on saves, .935% save percentage.
2: Matt Duchene (COL): One assist.
1: Seymon Varlamov (COL): 29-of-30 on saves, .967% save percentage.
The Colorado Avalanche will be back in action Saturday afternoon home against the San Jose Sharks. Puck-Drop is scheduled for 3:00 PM ET, 1:00 MT.