Struggling Flyers face tall task visiting Avalanche

The Philadelphia Flyers were rolling at the beginning of January, but things have turned sour for them.

Since beating the Anaheim Ducks on Jan. 6, the Flyers have gone 1-5-2. Now they face perhaps their toughest task of the season with Friday night's visit to the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche.

The Flyers are coming off an agonizing 5-4 overtime loss Wednesday at Utah. They led 3-0 early and 4-3 in the final minute before letting the game slip away.

"We sunk in pressure situations, something that we've got to get out of this team," Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said. "You've got to rise to the occasion. You've got to want to be out there in pressure situations. A couple of guys sunk in certain situations, so it's the bottom line. We've got to recover from it."

Philadelphia has struggled defensively over the past eight games. In the last seven losses -- two in overtime -- the Flyers have given up 36 goals. Samuel Ersson made just 22 saves on 27 shots in the Mammoth loss, which dropped his save percentage to .858 and increased his goals-against average to 3.38.

Dan Vladar, who has a 2.46 GAA in 28 games this season, was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 14 with a lower-body injury and the team has not announced when he will return.

That puts more onus on the offense led by Trevor Zegras, who has 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists). Travis Konecny ranks second with 44 points (17 goals, 27 assists) with Christian Dvorak next at 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists).

The Avalanche suffered a 2-1 shootout loss to visiting Anaheim on Wednesday night, just their fifth home loss of the season and have just one setback in regulation in 25 games on their ice.

Colorado was thwarted by Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (40 saves), but avoided being shut out for the first time this season when Artturi Lehkonen scored with 3:19 remaining in the third period.

Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon was kept off the scoresheet a game after reaching 1,100 career points. The forward, who has 85 points, including an NHL-best 38 goals, has put together another MVP-worthy season while battling Edmonton's Connor McDavid for the league's scoring lead.

Martin Necas stands second on the team with 60 points (22 goals, 38 assists) and Cale Makar is third with 54 points (14 goals, 40 assists). Makar leads all NHL defensemen in scoring.

MacKinnon might be more motivated Friday night after being denied on a couple of great chances against Anaheim.

"When he's a little angry, a little frustrated, I know where he's coming from, because he wants to make something happen every shift," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "I think that's part of what drives him to be great. I love that emotion. It just shows you how into the game they are and how in tune they are.

"I don't handle his emotion any which way," Bednar added. "I just let him do what he does and just make sure if he's going off-track with it that I try to remind him, like, ‘You've got to keep doing the right things if you want to get rewarded.' "

--Field Level Media