Flyers looking for season sweep against the Avalanche

The Philadelphia Flyers continue the road-trip with a final stop at west before coming back east. Tonight, they’ll visit the Colorado Avalanche with a chance to sweep the season series.

It’s a little odd to think these Flyers are sweeping anything in 2022-2023. Of all the opponents faced in the first 29 games of the season, the Avalanche are one of four teams on the verge of being swept in the season series. Philadelphia also has the upper-hand on the Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, and Vancouver Canucks.

Ironically, the last victory for the Flyers came at the expense of Colorado.

Since that 5-3 victory, Philadelphia swallowed three tough defeats. They closed out their recent homestand in losing fashion to the Washington Capitals. Then, they began the road trip with back-to-back overtime losses against the Vegas Golden Knights and Arizona Coyotes. The Flyers are one of the hardest working teams to routinely be on the losing side of a decision.

Two nights ago, the Avalanche found a win. They defeated the Blues, in overtime. The extra frame of hockey is a recurring theme. If the Flyers can, they should avoid that common thread. They’re winless past regulation time this season.

Colorado Avalanche (14-10-2)

Here’s the tentative lineup for Colorado:

Lehkonen-Rantanen-Nichushkin
Cogliano-Compher-O’Connor
Hudon-Meyers-Foudy
Hunt, D-Newhook-McDonald

Girard-Makar
Toews-Johnson
Hunt, B-Englund

Francouz
(Georgiev)

Mikko Rantanen (19G, 17A) is fresh off of a hat-trick in St. Louis. Without a slew of high-end talent supporting the lineup, Rantanen will be doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Philadelphia already allowed three-point evenings for several players this season, including Clayton Keller who notched a hat-trick for the Coyotes. Will Rantanen pick up where Keller left off against the Flyers’ defense?

In his career, Brad Hunt (56.8%CF) only faced Philadelphia three times on as many different teams (Golden Knights, Canucks, and Minnesota Wild.) Tonight, he’s in the lineup for the third time this season with the Avalanche. He’ll anchor the left side on the bottom pair with Andreas Englund.

Pavel Francouz (3-5-0, 2.9GAA, 91.1%SV) will start. He’s riding the hot hand after the overtime victory against the Blues.

Philadelphia Flyers (9-13-7)

Here’s the tentative lineup for the Flyers, per Giana Han:

van Riemsdyk-Frost-Tippett
Hayes-Cates, N-Konecny
Sedlak-Laughton-MacEwen
Deslauriers-Brown-Farabee

Provorov-Ristolainen
Sanheim-York
Seeler-Braun

Sandstrom
(Hart)

Felix Sandstrom (1-5-1, 3.4GAA, 88.9%SV) will start. Carter Hart gets rest after making seven consecutive starts between the pipes.

Travis Konecny (11G, 13A) has nine points (6G, 3A) in his last ten games. On a night where Morgan Frost, James van Riemsdyk, and Owen Tippett ruled the roost in Arizona, Konecny scored the most important goal. In a 6v5, with Hart pulled, Frost notched his third assist on the Konecny equalizer. Recently, versus Colorado, Konecny potted the empty-net insurance goal. His value is booming to new heights under the guidance of John Tortorella.

Place Your Bets

Philadelphia Flyers moneyline (+200)
Mikko Rantanen anytime score (+105)
Travis Konecny o.5pts (-175)

Game Information

The puck drops on the Philadelphia Flyers attempt to sweep the Colorado Avalanche tonight on NBC Sports Philadelphia at 9pm. The radio broadcast is available on 97.5 the Fanatic.

(Photo by Chris Kohley/Icon Sportswire)