PHILADELPHIA – They really didn’t play all that great for good portions of the week-long Eastern road swing. The coach, in fact, changed up some lines entering the final game of the trip, unhappy over a lack of secondary scoring.
But the Avalanche had a couple big things going for them: A dominant first line and great goaltending.
For the four-game swing, it all added up to seven of a possible eight points, the final two of which were had at Wells Fargo Center here Monday night as the Avs beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 on two goals by Mikko Rantanen and one each from Matt Nieto and Gabe “En Fuego” Landeskog.
Goaltender Semyon Varlamov was excellent in staying unbeaten in regulation so far this season, as the Avs come home now a 6-1-2 hockey team.
Terrific work by newcomer Matt Calvert set up the Avs’ second goal, which went to Matt Nieto – his first of the season. Calvert stripped an opponent of a puck in the offensive zone, worked to get it behind the net and fed Nieto for a one-timer that beat Brian Elliott from between the circles.
I talked with Calvert earlier in the day and he’s still champing at the bit to get that first goal himself.
“I’ve had some chances,” Calvert said with a bit of a “aw shucks” look, “but it’ll come. As long as we can create chances out there.”
That gave the Avs a 2-0 lead, which built upon Mikko Rantanen’s easy power-play goal in the first. All Rantanen had to do was tap in Nathan MacKinnon’s backhand pass into an open side of Elliott’s net, and he did.
Gabe Landeskog gave Colorado a 3-0 lead early in the third with a semi-breakaway that started from all the way in his own zone. Landy just kept lugging the puck down the ice and somehow kept a step on the field before burying one for his eighth goal of the season and sixth in the last three games.
Earlier in the day, Landeskog was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week.
Varlamov was tremendous throughout, the only thing beating him in the first 50 minutes a tipped shot by Nolan Patrick. The Flyers put some heavy pressure on at times after that, but Varly stood strong.
Rantanen added the empty-netter.
0 Comments (5 conversations)
osmodiarshazbot
Pay Rants NOW!! No bridge, 7-8 x 7 or 8 and keep the costs down.
T-Bird2218
Rantanen and his agent said they aren’t negotiating until the end of the season because he could increase his value based on how well he performs this year.
osmodiarshazbot
It’s absurd! Avs needs to convince him he’s not the highest paid player in the league.. Mack’s contract is disgusting. No way the Avs get away with that theft again..
Chris DeMott
Yeah, but probably more like 8×8. Costs will be high w/ this one.
HolidayHippie
To be fair, they didn’t add the part about him increasing his value. I’d wager part of it is that it’s a distraction, and given how he’s playing, don’t change anything. Not even toothpaste.
robfields911
Like you’ve said, this team is not even playing as well as they could/should. I think we can feel pretty good about the start they’ve had and can only imagine what they will do when they really come together and get everyone going!!
Gurn Blanston
The MVP of this team might be Bednar.
IdAvsFan
Let’s just hope Sakic learned from the “Duchane Cap” that cost us O’Reilly and Stastney and pay Rants what he’s going to be worth. I’d also like to see MacKinnon take a page out of his buddy Sids book and spend some time working on improving his Face-offs – I know they don’t make or break a team (just look at the stats) but man do they make life easier when you can win them on penalty kill.
HolidayHippie
While that’s true, Mac is never out on the PK unless there is a draw in the last few seconds of a PK when they’re preparing to be even-strength.
That said, I think a number of the Avs could use some work on faceoffs. I don’t know who, but someone said “Hey, it’s better to have the puck than not”, and I wholeheartedly agree.
mladen
They can’t give away the farm on two players. Look at what happened to the Oilers.