Avalanche score second straight shutout with 2-0 victory over Flyers

Two straight games and two straight goose eggs for the opposition.

Following a topsy-turvy month of January coupled by the shocking trade of Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Colorado Avalanche are back on a roll.

After getting outmuscled and outwitted in the opening period, the Avs stormed ahead in the second period and never looked back for a 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at Ball Arena. Samuel Girard’s goal put Colorado ahead, Nathan MacKinnon scored his 20th of the season, and Mackenzie Blackwood shut the door with his second straight shutout as the Avalanche won back-to-back games for the first time in a month.

First Period

The Flyers started off with a head steam with six unanswered shots before Colorado finally responded. Both teams had their fair share of looks, but outstanding goaltending from Blackwood and Flyers netminder Samuel Ersson, who stopped 30 of 32 shots, was the theme of the opening frame.

Second Period

Until recently, the Avs struggled with starting hot and going silent. However, in the last few games, that has clearly not been the case. Although Colorado was not the superior team in the first period, everything changed in the second. 8:55 into the frame.

Sam Girard broke the scoreless tie when he sniped home a wrister that hit inside the left post for his 20th point of the season. The play unfolded after the Flyers missed a shot wide. Casey Mittelstadt recovered the puck and led the Avalanche on the breakout before finding Girard, who deked by a defender before firing the puck home to make it 1-0.

A few minutes later, Devon Toews broke through the Flyers D and fired with a salty backhand from the right side of the net that was turned away by Ersson.

With 6:56 to go, Toews had another beautiful opportunity from the left point with a quick one-timer, but Ersson stoned him cold.

MacKinnon made it a 2-0 game on the power play with 2:32 left in the period with a wrister from the left faceoff circle. The Avs went on the man advantage after Scott Laughton hooked Josh Manson. Colorado subsequently broke out their signature tic-tac-toe move in the offensive zone, with Jonathan Drouin and Cale Makar exchanging passes before MacKinnon sizzled one home. The marker was Mac’s NHL-league-leading 80th point of the season.

Third Period

In the final period of action, the Avs had several chances to extend the lead but were unable to provide the insurance marker.

Martin Nečas had several one-time bombs earlier in the game, and he had another chance in the opening minute of the third and final period of play. This opportunity came from the left side of the net, but Ersson was able to read it and caught it right in the breadbasket. On the other end of the ice, the Avs intercepted passes and poke-checked in key moments to take away clean looks from the Flyers. Furthermore, they killed off a penalty after Miles Wood was busted for slashing Travis Sanheim.

When Wood excited the box, the Avs were pinned down in their own zone as Philly had the extra attacker out on the ice after pulling Ersson. Girard had a goal overturned in the waning moments after it was ruled his initial empty-net goal had entered the net just after time expired. Nonetheless, Colorado came home with the 2-0 win.

Takeaways

What an incredible performance from the Avalanche. As far as the Rantanen trade is concerned, it’s clear that Colorado won the trade. Nečas fits very well with the Avalanche scheme and his puck possession skills and speed have reinvigorated this offense. And for the Avs fans who continue to criticize Chris MacFarland, are you insane? This team is getting better and stronger as the season winds down.

Next Game:

Colorado heads on a Tour De Canada road trip this week to Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton before the NHL goes on break for the 4 Nations Face-Off. The Avs take on the Canucks on Tuesday at 8 p.m. local time live from Rogers Arena.