Avs ruin Flyers’ first efforts to retool

PHILADELPHIA – The Flyers got some of their game back, just not enough on Monday night.

The offense showed up, and popped in five goals. a big difference from recent games an anemic production level.

Problem is, the Flyers left their defense on the beaches of the Caribbean in a 7-5 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

It was the Flyers’ first game without Alain Vigneault, who was fired early Monday.

Flyers assistant coach Mike Yeo replaced Vigneault.

“The big thing for me is, obviously, I really wanted to win the game,” Yeo said. “But I also didn’t think that we were just going to come here, snap our fingers, and everything was going to be right and great for us.”

Seven different skater scored for the Avs.

“There was some good chatter on the bench,” Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said. “I liked our energy coming out of the room. Had the feeling we would be good tonight. We were in some areas of the game, for sure. It’s a big win for us. Got a lot of different contributions on the offensive side.”

Colorado improved to 13-7-2.

Colorado’s Justus Annunen made 27 saves in his first NHL start; he kicked in an assist for good measure.

Claude Giroux hit for a pair of goals for the Flyers.

Giroux scored to open the game with a 1-0 lead for the Flyers.

The Avs replied with four goals from Erik Johnson, Gabriel Landeskog, and Cale Makar scored for a 4-1 lead.

“They came out hard and got the first one,” Johnson said. “We slowly chipped away. Ultimately, I didn’t love our first because we gave up quite a few Grade-A chances to a rookie goalie in his first game. I thought we made it a little harder on him than we had to.”

Philadelphia responded with two goals; Oskar Lindblom and Giroux scored to close out the first period trailing, 3-4.

Valeri Nichushkin pushed the Avs lead to two goals with an early strike in the middle frame.

Philadelphia dropped to 8-11-4.

After Cam Atkinson got the Flyers within 5-4, Nazem Kadri (power-play) and Tyson Jost scored for Colorado for a 7-4 lead in the third period.

“We know we’re going to score. It shows in the way we play,” Makar said. “It’s just making sure that we take care of the defensive side first. It’s not exactly fun games when it’s a complete shootout like that.”

The Flyers’ Scott Laughton hit for a shorthanded goal late in the third period for the 7-5 final.

“There were some positive signs,” the Flyers’ Sean Couturier said. “Obviously, there’s still a lot of work to do. But we can build on certain things and work on others. I think it’s just a reset right now.”