Flyers' Late Surge Not Enough to Beat League's Best on Sunday

Facing the best teams in the league, the Philadelphia Flyers’ late push was not enough to come back and take down the Colorado Avalanche.

The Flyers got out to a quick start, but quickly faded away after Sean Couturier scored the game’s first goal. Colorado scored three straight, which was eventually answered with a Travis Konecny breakaway tally.

Philadelphia would make a strong push in the third, playing one of its best periods of hockey against a really tough opponent. However, it was not enough as the Avalanche held on to the 3-2 lead.

With the loss, the Flyers’ record dropped to 15-9-3 this season. Here is how we got to the final score.

Flyers start fast but fade

When the Flyers have a long break between games, you usually see the Flyers shaking off some rust, especially early in games. It typically causes slow starts and forces the Flyers to play from behind for most of the game.

That was not the case on Sunday.

The Flyers got off to a quick start, beginning with a great first shift from the Cates line – a noticeable one. It was a much more energetic start than we have become accustomed to. Eventually, the Flyers would capitalize.

On his 33rd birthday, and 900th career NHL game, Flyers’ captain Sean Couturier (5) would redirect Noah Juulsen’s (3) shot, scoring first.

The Flyers had the 1-0 lead after getting off to a fast start against an Avalanche team that played an overtime game less than 24 hours before getting to South Philly. However, that would be the end of Philadelphia’s quick start.

There were some bright moments in the first, like Nikita Grebenkin’s pickpocketing of Nathan MacKinnon, or Noah Cates’s poke check on Cale Makar’s patented headfake play. Sam Ersson, while the numbers may not show it, had a great period. Aside from that, the rest of the first period was all Avalanche.

First, it was Brent Burns breaking through for Colorado. The Flyers could not get the puck out of the defensive zone, keeping the possession alive. Martin Necas found Burns, who buried the shot from the right-side faceoff circle.

That was just the beginning of the Colorado momentum. While it took a while to find another goal, the Avalanche began to pour it on Ersson, making him work to keep his team in it.

With time running down in the period, Juulsen got called for a trip, putting the 26th-ranked Avalanche power play on the ice. Things might not have been going well for the Avs on the man-advantage all season, but Brock Nelson found a goal on Sunday.

In the final minute of the first, Nelson scored the power-play goal, assisted by Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, giving his team the 2-1 lead in the first intermission.

Avalanche add on, Flyers respond

It did not take long for the Avalanche to tack back on in the second period. Less than two minutes into the period, Valari Nichuskin extended Colorado’s lead to two.

Off the rush, Victor Olofsson found Nichuskin, who beat Ersson with a shot from the right faceoff circle, making it 3-1.

Against a team like the Avalanche, that could have easily been a back-breaker. However, the Flyers picked up the intensity and played their way back into the game.

They started shooting more pucks, playing more sound defensively, and Ersson continued to play well, including a big stop on an Olofsson breakaway.

Eventually, the Flyers would get rewarded for their efforts.

Travis Konecny (7) was sprung on a breakaway after a fantastic pass from Emil Andrae (6), bringing the Flyers back within one.

Once again, there was life in the building.

Play would go on, and the Flyers would have a handful of chances, but could not convert. With 8 seconds to play in the period, Martin Necas got called for a slash, putting the Flyers on the man-advantage.

They only had one crack at a goal before the period expired. Owen Tippett got the puck off the draw and fired a shot with Matvei Michkov net front. The two could not connect, the shot went wide, and the game remained 3-2 heading into the second intermission.

Close, but no cigar

The Flyers started the third period with just under 1:52 on the power play. They had their looks but couldn’t find the back of the net. However, the Flyers were able to build plenty of momentum from the power play, and it showed throughout the period.

Philly put the pressure on in the third, getting plenty of pressure on Blackwood. In fact, they had 13 shots in the third period alone, and 12 in the combined 40 minutes prior.

The Flyers had a couple of great chances in the third, including Konecny’s third breakaway and a Bobby Brink missed opportunity with the Avs’ netminder’s back turned. However, none would be bigger than a Trevor Zegras penalty shot.

The Flyers’ forward was on a breakaway and got held by MacKinnon at the blueline, with the referees awarding him a penalty shot.

With a prime opportunity to score the equalizer, Zegras could not beat Blackwood, keeping it a one-goal game.

Trevor Zegras was awarded a penalty shot after MacKinnon got called for holding on the breakaway, but could not convert.

Had one against St. Louis, which was saved as well. pic.twitter.com/o6QBptQQBt

— Will James (@wmjsports) December 7, 2025

After the game, you could see his frustration. Zegras was the last skater in the locker room and sat there with his thoughts well into the first media scrum.

The Flyers would pull Sam Ersson for the 6-on-5 advantage, but could not generate much. Eventually, it got to the point where they could not get the puck out of the defensive zone.

Colorado held off the Flyers’ late push, ending the game with a score of 3-2.

What’s next for the Flyers

The Flyers play next on Tuesday when they host Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and the San Jose Sharks at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Flyers’ Late Surge Not Enough to Beat League’s Best on Sunday

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