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Avalanche Face Off Against Slumping Flyers in Playoff Race Battle
The Colorado Avalanche made a statement with a dominant 5-0 win over the St. Louis Blues on Friday. Now, they welcome another struggling team as the Philadelphia Flyers visit Denver on Sunday.
Avs Finding Their Stride After Rantanen Trade
Since trading Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes in a blockbuster deal on Jan. 24, the Avalanche have been adjusting to new linemates—and it’s working.
Martin Necas (acquired in the trade) has five points in four games, including a goal in Friday’s win. Jack Drury, also part of the deal, has chipped in two goals since joining Colorado.
“It’s always fun to play against the Avs here,” Necas said. “Obviously always tough to play against. To be on the other side feels great.”
The Avalanche’s power play, which had gone cold, finally broke out with two goals against St. Louis. Cale Makar, the league’s highest-scoring defenseman, added his 19th goal of the season and now has 57 points.
Nathan MacKinnon remains dominant, leading the NHL with 60 assists and sitting atop the league with 79 points. Artturi Lehkonen has stepped up in Rantanen’s absence, leading the team with 21 goals.
Colorado won the first meeting between these two teams 3-2 on Nov. 18, with Makar scoring twice in that game.
Flyers in a Scoring Slump Amid Roster Changes
Philadelphia is adjusting to its own roster shakeup, having traded Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee to Calgary on Friday for Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, and draft picks.
Frost was fourth in team scoring with 25 points, and GM Daniel Briere believes the trade gives Philadelphia cap flexibility and an opportunity to develop Pelletier.
“A former first-round pick. Couldn’t get it going in Calgary, so we are hoping he can get it going,” Briere said. “He has a high motor; he’s only 23.”
Despite leading the Flyers with 58 points (21 goals, 37 assists), Travis Konecny and his team are struggling to generate offense.
Flyers’ Offense is Ice-Cold
Philadelphia enters Sunday on a two-game shutout streak, having been outscored 19-6 while losing four of its last five games.
“It’s not good enough at this time of year,” center Scott Laughton said. “We’ve got to find some traction here before it goes too far the other way.”
Playoff Push in Both Conferences
With both teams fighting for positioning, Sunday’s game carries playoff implications.
🔹 Philadelphia Flyers: Five points out of the final wild-card spot in the East.
🔹 Colorado Avalanche: Holding a five-point cushion for the top Western Conference wild-card spot.
Can the Avalanche keep rolling, or will the Flyers finally break their scoring drought?
