Looking for fine finish in Philadelphia
The Avalanche, led by left wing and team captain Gabe Landeskog, concludes its fourgame road trip Monday at the Philadelphia Flyers. The Avs are 201 on the trip, thanks to Landeskog’s seven goals.
Colorado is coming off a 31 triumph Saturday at the Carolina Hurricanes. Landeskog, who produced his third career hat trick in Thursday’s 53 victory at New Jersey, scored twice against the Hurricanes. He also scored in Tuesday’s 32 shootout loss at the New York Rangers.
What to look for Monday: The opponent. The Flyers (44) are coming off a 52 victory against New Jersey and are 21 in their last three games. Forward Jakub Voracek had a goal and two assists against the Devils and is tied with forward Claude Giroux with a teamhigh 11 points. Philly will go with one of two former Avalanche goalies — Brian Elliott or Calvin Pickard.
MGM Line. The top line of center Nathan MacKinnon and wingers Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen has 10 goals and 21 points on the trip. MacKinnon (eight goals) has scored in seven of eight games and is tied for second in NHL goal scoring, trailing only Auston Matthews (10) of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
MacKinnon has five assists in his last two games and has climbed to second in NHL points with 14, behind Matthews’ 16.
Rantanen also has 14 points on the strength of a leagueleading 12 assists.
MacKinnon and Rantanen are both on eightgame point streaks, just the second pair in Quebec Nordiques/Avalanche history to begin a season with points in their first eight games. Joe Sakic and Anton Stastny did it in 198889 for the Nordiques.
Forward Marko Dano finally joined the Avalanche in Philadelphia on Sunday, nearly a week after he was claimed off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets. Dano participated in Sunday’s optional practice at the Wells Fargo Center and might make his team debut Monday.
Wrapping up the series. This is the second and final regularseason meeting between the Flyers and Avs. Colorado beat Philly 52 on Oct. 6, getting two goals from winger Colin Wilson and one apiece from MacKinnon, Landeskog and J.T. Compher.
Compher (three goals, four points in five games) has not played on the road trip because of a concussion. He could be a candidate to return to the lineup Monday.