Avs Begin Road Trip at Flyers
The official game preview Colorado Avalanche vs Philadelphia Flyers.Season series: The Philadelphia Flyers and Colorado Avalanche split two games last season, with each team winning on home ice. In their most recent game, the Flyers won 3-1 on Feb. 6. The Flyers have won three straight home games against the Avalanche, a stretch that dates to the 2008-09 season. The last time the Avalanche won in Philadelphia was Jan. 14, 2006.
Avalanche team scope: The Avalanche finished a three-game homestand with a shootout win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, and the hope is the team can build on that win as it starts a four-game road trip in Philadelphia.
"It's nice, after struggling the last bit, to get a win here provides some momentum going on the road," center Ryan O'Reilly told the Avalanche website Friday. "There's always adjustments you need to make. Having some success against the Leafs should carry over."
Reto Berra, who made 35 saves in regulation and overtime before stopping one of two shots in the shootout, will be in net Saturday, coach Patrick Roy said.
Flyers team scope: Coach Craig Berube shook up his lines after one period Thursday against the Florida Panthers, moving Wayne Simmonds, a natural right wing, to left wing on the top line alongside center Claude Giroux and right wing Jakub Voracek.
Berube said Friday he intends to go into Saturday with that line together. The move came in part because Berube wanted to make sure Simmonds was getting the puck enough; after scoring six goals in his first three games, he has one goal in nine games.
"He [Simmonds] wasn't getting the puck enough on the other line. He's one of our best goal scorers and those guys play on the power play together. I talked to Simmer [Simmonds] about playing the left side and he said no problem. I just wanted to see it. Just looking for someone to get Simmer the puck a little more."
The Flyers also could have defenseman Braydon Coburn in the lineup. He hasn't played since sustaining a lower-body injury in the season opener Oct. 8.
-- by Adam Kimelman for NHL.com --
Eurolanche.com, Worldwide, eurolanche@eurolanche.com
08/11/2014 - 16:30
