Flyers Keys to a Win vs. the Avalanche
The red-hot Flyers visit the Colorado Avalanche to try and extend their three-game winning streak.
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Now on to some keys to a Flyers win…
Close Open Lanes
The Avalanche are a notably fast team. Not only are they fast, but they can also shoot the puck at a more efficient rate than almost any other team. Sitting at a shooting percentage of 11.0 percent as a collective, that beats out the Flyers pretty drastically, with them only at 9.0 percent. The vast difference in totals has a lot to do with how skilled the Avalanche are. When they get open lanes, they take advantage like almost no other team in the NHL can. If the Flyers leave a Colorado player open, the Orange and Black will suffer for it.
One thing the Flyers are good at is not giving their opponents too much to shoot at. There are instances where they allow a great look for their opponent, but the Flyers are still one of the best teams in the NHL defensively for the most part. In terms of expected goals against per 60 (xGA/60), the Flyers’ total of 2.59 narrowly trails the Los Angeles Kings’ total of 2.58, making them the two of the best defensive teams in the NHL. Los Angeles recently beat the Avalanche, so perhaps defense is indeed the Flyers’ golden ticket to victory.
Account for Superstars
Out of any game this season, this one will likely be the one where the Flyers have their work cut out for them the most. They’ve beaten three of the five best teams in the overall NHL standings, having played four of them. The 16-8-2 Avalanche aren’t in this group, but they could be the biggest challenge of them all.
Unlike most teams, the Avalanche have multiple superstars on their roster. How loose that term is depends on the person, but it should be universal that both forward Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar fall into that category. Players like that can change the game in ways that others can’t. Having a superstar is so important because it adds a new element to the game, and a player like that has to be accounted for. Since the Avalanche have multiple, it’s not going to be easy to do. The Flyers will have to be especially careful around them, if not flawless.
Take Advantage of Colorado Injuries
The Avalanche struggled with a multitude of injuries throughout their lineup last season, and that was part of the reason why they didn’t make it out of the first round of the playoffs last season. Once again, they are suffering the same fate. Colorado has some key pieces that won’t be playing in this game, and perhaps that’s the Flyers’ saving grace.
Even with the injuries, the Avalanche have managed to be one of the best teams in the NHL. Still, them not having top-six forwards Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen is an advantage for the Flyers.
Get Defense Involved
The Flyers — and their defenders in particular — have been very aggressive this season, particularly in the offensive zone. The forwards do their part, but it is the defense that’s always chipping in and helping out on the forecheck. Frequently, a Flyer defender could be mistaken for a winger at first glance with how far in they pinch at times. This is exactly what the Flyers need to beat Colorado.
Getting a goal out of the defense would obviously be nice, but simply providing offensively should be more than enough for Philadelphia. It is evident that they will need all the help they can get, especially offensively. Defenseman Cam York gave them one in their 4-1 win over the Coyotes, so a hot streak wouldn’t hurt, either.
A Dive Into the Numbers
The stars on the Avalanche are playing as good as ever. MacKinnon leads the way with 36 points in 26 games, giving him a pace of 113 points if he were to play all 82 games. Makar is no different, scoring 34 points in 24 games. As always, the 25-year-old should be in contention for the Norris Trophy as long as he stays healthy. Rounding out Colorado’s clear-cut stars, Mikko Rantanen has a solid 12 goals and 31 points in 26 games so far. It’s a slight step back from his 55-goal, 105-point season in 2022-23, but it’s still up there with the best players in the league.
Clearly, it is the Avalanche who have the best individual players. As a team, they have lost four out of their last five games, while the Flyers have won their last three. A win in this game could mean a lot to the Flyers, meaning they’d have beaten one of the top contenders in the NHL on the road. Even playing at their absolute best may not guarantee them anything, so a close to perfect performance may be required. The Flyers have handled adversity well all season, and this game is sure to have some twists and turns for them eventually. How they respond is crucial to victory.