The Colorado Avalanche will have little time to enjoy their latest win as the NHL’s top team travels to Philadelphia on Sunday to face the Flyers.
Not only will the Flyers have home-ice advantage, where they are 9-4-2 this season, but they will also enjoy a significant rest edge over the Avalanche.
Philadelphia last played Wednesday, beating Buffalo 5-2 at home for its fourth win in five games. Come Sunday, the Avalanche will be playing their third road game in four days.
They started their four-game road trip Thursday, losing 6-3 to the New York Islanders in just their second defeat in regulation this season. On Saturday afternoon, they survived a last-minute goal in regulation by the New York Rangers to pull out a 3-2 overtime victory.
Nathan MacKinnon scored twice Saturday, including the game-winner with 2:14 left in the 3-on-3 session. He now leads the league with 24 goals and 48 points. Martin Necas assisted on all three goals Saturday and shares the team lead with the former Hart Trophy winner with 24 assists.
Colorado coach Jared Bednar said after the win he saw his team defend much better than it did on Thursday.
“We made some crazy bad decisions in our checking game (vs. the Islanders),” he said. “Gave up too many scoring chances and gave up six goals. Then we came out tonight. I thought we checked really hard. So it helped get us a win for sure.”
Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood played in his fourth straight game and made his second consecutive start for Colorado as top netminder Scott Wedgewood did not dress Saturday. Wedgewood has been out since leaving midway through the team’s 3-1 home victory on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks.
Blackwood has yet to play on consecutive days this season. If he does not play and Wedgewood remains out, then Trent Miner would start. Miner, 24, has played in four games over the past two seasons with two starts. He’s 0-1-2 with a 2.34 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage.
The Flyers had 10 players register a point in their last win, with Bobby Brink, Noah Cates and Travis Konecny each tallying a goal and an assist.
Trevor Zegras scored his 10th goal in the win, knotting him with Tyson Foerster for the team lead. He also leads the team with 26 points, and his 16 helpers tie him for the team lead with Konecny.
While the Flyers will be well-rested, they also will not be at 100% heading into Sunday. The team placed Foerster on injured reserve on Wednesday with an upper-body injury that will sideline him for two to three months.
The following day, coach Rick Tocchet said Cam York was day-to-day as the defenseman also has been battling an upper-body issue.
York ranks fourth on the team with 11 assists, and he also logs the second-most time on the ice, averaging 23:31 a game.
“Possibly (York) might not play,” Tocchet said Thursday. “Whoever’s going to come in there, as a group, we’re going to have to make up for those minutes.”
Late Saturday, the Flyers announced they recalled defenseman Ty Murchison from the team’s AHL affiliate. That may indicate York will not be available.
Dan Vladar should start in net for the Flyers. He last played on Monday and matched his season worst by allowing five goals in a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Vladar, who played the past four seasons with the Calgary Flames, is 2-4 in six games against the Avalanche with a 3.88 GAA and an .887 save percentage.
