PHILADELPHIA – Semyon Varlamov had 33 saves to help the Colorado Avalanche to a 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in a shootout.
Mikko Rantanen was credited with the game winner in the skills competition; it was his second goal of the game.
crashing the net Left Wing Taylor Leier (#20) of the Philadelphia Flyers into Defenseman Andrei Mironov (#94) of the Colorado Avalanche and Goalie Semyon Varlamov (#1)
“I tried once in practice and I went forehand that time too,” Rantanen said. “This time tried to do the same. It’s easier to finish the forehand.”
Matt Duchene, Blake Comeau and Nail Yakupov struck for goals in regulation.
“There’s definitely a different feeling. I hate to keep going back to last year because it is what it is and it’s in the past. We’re early in the season here and it’s a long season, a marathon not a sprint. The work has just begun. I like the way our guys are digging in and our buy-in is starting to come, trying to build an identity and get more consistent at what we do. We took another step tonight,” Avs head coach Jared Bednar said of Colorado’s efforts this season.
The Flyers’ goals came from Jakub Voracek, Valtteri Filppula, Claude Giroux, and Dale Weise.
The Avs managed the win despite having two forwards sick for the game.
“I think we got fortunate there,” Bednar said. “He took that shot and you never know what’s going to happen. Turned out to be nothing so he’s back on the bench. You never want to play two short there, especially when you’ve got back-to-back [game] coming the next night. [You] don’t want to wear guys out. … [It] was a little bit concerning, but when he came back it was a little bit of a sigh of relief.”
Weise’ goal tied the game at 4-4 at the 6:37 mark of the third period.
“We get down a goal we don’t just pack it in and feel sorry for ourselves,” Shayne Gostisbehere said. “I think it’s how we’ve been responding, that’s the biggest thing. Our confidence level is through the roof because we just keep going and keep making plays.”
[WATCH: All Avalanche vs. Flyers highlights]
Michal Neuvirth made 23 saves in the loss.
“Thought overtime was good, but we didn’t score a goal so it doesn’t matter how we played in that overtime,” Voracek said after the loss.
Center Matt Duchene (#9) of the Colorado Avalanche in on Goalie Michal Neuvirth (#30) of the Philadelphia Flyers as Right Wing Jakub Voracek (#93) trys to defend.
Goalie Semyon Varlamov (#1) of the Colorado Avalanche Right Wing Wayne Simmonds (#17) of the Philadelphia Flyers Defenseman Patrik Nemeth (#12) of the Colorado Avalanche
goal by Right Wing Dale Weise (#22) as Center Jori Lehtera (#15) of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on. Goalie Semyon Varlamov (#1) of the Colorado Avalanche
Center Travis Konecny (#11) of the Philadelphia Flyers Left Wing Blake Comeau (#14),Right Wing Sven Andrighetto (#10) and Goalie Semyon Varlamov (#1) of the Colorado Avalanche
Right Wing Wayne Simmonds (#17) of the Philadelphia Flyers, Goalie Semyon Varlamov (#1) and Defenseman Patrik Nemeth (#12) of the Colorado Avalanche
Center Sean Couturier (#14) of the Philadelphia Flyers. Goalie Semyon Varlamov (#1) and Defenseman Patrik Nemeth (#12) of the Colorado Avalanche
Center Travis Konecny (#11) of the Philadelphia Flyers checked by Defenseman Patrik Nemeth (#12) of the Colorado Avalanche.
goal by Right Wing Jakub Voracek (#93) of the Philadelphia Flyers. Goalie Semyon Varlamov (#1), Center Nathan MacKinnon (#29), and Defenseman Mark Barberio (#44) of the Colorado Avalanche.
Left Wing Gabriel Landeskog (#92) of the Colorado Avalanche checked into the boards by Center Sean Couturier (#14) of the Philadelphia Flyers
Defenseman Ivan Provorov (#9) of the Philadelphia Flyers and Defenseman Erik Johnson (#6) of the Colorado Avalanche
Right Wing Wayne Simmonds (#17) of the Philadelphia Flyers battles for the puck in his skate against Center Nathan MacKinnon (#29) of the Colorado Avalanche
Goalie Semyon Varlamov (#1) of the Colorado Avalanche Right Wing Jakub Voracek (#93) of the Philadelphia Flyers and Defenseman Erik Johnson (#6) of the Colorado Avalanche
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