Eurolanche

Avalanche begin seven-game road trip

Season series: The Colorado Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers split their two-game series last season. Forward Claude Giroux scored twice and goalie Steve Mason made 36 saves in the Flyers' 4-3 win on Nov. 8, 2014. Forward Ryan O'Reilly, now with the Buffalo Sabres. scored 4:40 into overtime to give the Avalanche a 4-3 win on Dec. 31, 2014. Giroux led all skaters with three goals and four points.

Avalanche team scope: Colorado begins a two-week, seven-game road trip looking to make up ground in the Central Division, where the Avalanche are in last place with nine points. "We understand it's an important trip for us," coach Patrick Roy told the Avalanche website. "We have to win some hockey games. In order to do that, we're going to have to continue to play good defensively, but offensively I think we're going to have to be more relentless. We're going to have to anticipate more and be quick on pucks, especially on rebounds around the net." The Avalanche called up forward Andreas Martinsen from San Antonio of the American Hockey League on Sunday with injuries to forwards Alex Tanguay (knee) and John Mitchell (oblique). Mitchell practiced in a full-contact jersey Monday and could return during the road trip. Goalie Reto Berra will start for the Avalanche.

Flyers team scope: Philadelphia coach Dave Hakstol endorsed Mason as his top goaltender even though backup Michal Neuvirth is tied for the NHL lead in save percentage (.945), fourth in goals-against average (1.81) and first in shutouts (three). Mason, who told CSNPhilly.com he's 100 percent after feeling ill the past couple of days, has a 3.34 GAA and .902 save percentage. "[Mason] is our No. 1," Hakstol said in video posted on the Flyers website. "We've said that all the way along and feel that way." Forward R.J. Umberger took a maintenance day Monday and is questionable after blocking a puck with his foot in the Flyers' 3-0 win against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. Vincent Lecavalier skated on the third line Brayden Schenn and Sam Gagner at practice. Defenseman Evgeny Medvedev (upper body) and center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (lower body) participated in drills but did not skate. Defenseman Michael Del Zotto practiced fully after hurting his right leg Saturday.

-- by Jon Lane for NHL.com --