Flyers Wrap Up Road Trip in Denver Against League-Leading Avalanche
After a gut-punch of an overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday, the Philadelphia Flyers have one final stop on their road swing-and it's a big one. They’ll take the ice in Denver to face the Colorado Avalanche, the team currently sitting atop the NHL standings with 77 points.
Now, let’s be clear: “best in the league” doesn’t necessarily mean “hottest.” That title might belong to the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning, who are riding a 13-0-1 heater, or even the Buffalo Sabres, who’ve looked borderline untouchable lately.
The Avalanche, by contrast, are 5-3-2 in their last 10. Still good, but not quite the steamroller they were earlier in the season.
Part of that comes down to health. Colorado’s been without key pieces like Gabriel Landeskog and Devon Toews-two players whose absence has been felt on both ends of the ice.
And while the Avs are still a powerhouse, they’ve shown some cracks. That gives the Flyers a sliver of opportunity to steal a win before heading home.
Let’s break down the key storylines heading into this one.
1. Penalties Continue to Haunt the Flyers
Discipline-or the lack of it-has been a recurring theme for Philly, and it bit them again in Utah. While they managed to clean things up a bit, they still took three minor penalties and a fighting major. One of those minors, a roughing call on Noah Juulsen, opened the door for Utah to mount their comeback and eventually win it in overtime.
It's one thing to stand up for your teammates. That’s part of the culture, and it’s something the Flyers pride themselves on.
But timing matters, and taking unnecessary penalties in close games is a recipe for disaster. Against a team like Colorado, which can punish you quickly on the power play, the Flyers simply can’t afford to spend time in the box.
2. Vladar Nearing a Return, Ersson’s Final Audition?
Dan Vladar is getting close. The goaltender was back on the ice practicing with the team, and while he’s not expected to start tonight, all signs point to a return for Monday’s game. That means this could be Sam Ersson’s last start in Vladar’s absence-and it’s a big one.
Ersson’s recent performances have been a mixed bag, but he showed flashes of strong play, particularly in the Flyers’ win over Vegas. And let’s be fair-he wasn’t the reason they lost to Utah.
If anything, he kept them in it. Now, with a chance to go head-to-head against one of the league’s most potent offenses, Ersson has a golden opportunity to make a statement.
If he wants to be part of the long-term picture in Philly, this is the kind of game that can turn heads.
3. Lineup Tweaks: Defense Gets a Shuffle, Grebenkin Sits
Head coach Rick Tocchet is tweaking the lineup again, and the changes start on the blue line. Jamie Drysdale and Nick Seeler are reunited, while Emil Andrae gets paired with Noah Juulsen. That’s a fairly standard shuffle, but it’s the forward group that’s raising eyebrows.
It looks like Nikita Grebenkin will be a healthy scratch tonight, which is a bit of a surprise. After Garnet Hathaway’s costly mistake against Utah-his turnover directly led to the game-winner-many expected him to get a reset in the press box. Instead, it’s the young Grebenkin who’ll be watching from above.
It’s a tough pill for the rookie, especially given his recent flashes of promise. But this is also part of the learning curve. Tocchet has shown he’s not afraid to make bold decisions in the name of accountability, and tonight’s lineup reflects that.
Final Thoughts
The Flyers are closing out a challenging road trip with one of their toughest tests of the season. The Avalanche may not be at full strength, but they’re still the league’s top team for a reason. If Philly wants to head home on a high note, they’ll need to play smart, stay disciplined, and get a standout performance in net-whether it’s Ersson’s final start of this stretch or not.
There’s no such thing as an easy night in Denver, but with the Avs showing some vulnerability, the door’s slightly ajar. The question is: can the Flyers kick it open?