The Philadelphia Flyers did what only one other team has been able to do all season long on Friday night. They handed the Colorado Avalanche only their second regulation loss on home ice. And they used a huge third period to do so.
Entering the third in a tie game, the Flyers scored four unanswered goals on the way to a 7-3 victory, with Owen Tippett completing a hat trick in the process.
The Flyers were heavily outplayed in the first period, but got great goaltending from Sam Ersson, making 17 saves. At 15:02, they were able to get the lead as Tippett opened the scoring.
With just over a minute to play in the period, the Flyers extended the lead on the power play. Denver Barkey scored his second NHL goal, taking a feed from Matvei Michkov to make it 2-0.
Through 20 minutes, shots were 17-7 Colorado.
The Avalanche chipped away at the lead in the second, getting on the board at 7:17. Parker Kelly finished off a chance after a Flyers’ turnover to cut the lead to one.
Just over three minutes later, the game was tied as Victor Olofsson scored his 10th of the season to make it a 2-2 game at 10:29.
The Flyers took the lead again at 11:01 as Bobby Brink stayed with the play and scored his 13th goal of the season, setting a new career high. The Avalanche answered back just 71 seconds later, as Cale Makar scored his 15th of the season off a face-off to tie things at three.
Through two periods, shots were 24-12 Colorado.
The Flyers wasted no time getting the lead back in the third. Just 56 seconds into the period, Tippett scored off the rush for his second of the game to make it 4-3.
Just 64 seconds later, the Flyers added insurance. Michkov deflected a shot from Emil Andrae for his 11th goal of the season to make it 5-3.
On the penalty kill at 10:24, Tippett got a takeaway and a shorthanded breakaway, scoring to complete the hat trick with his 18th goal of the season.
Michkov scored his second of the game into an empty net with 3:07 remaining to ice the game.
Ersson finished with 32 saves on 35 shots in the win. Mackenzie Blackwood made 13 saves on 19 shots in the loss.
Tippett had a four-point game. Michkov finished with three points. Barkey had a goal and an assist. For Colorado, Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas each had two assists.
The Flyers return home on Monday night to take on the New York Islanders at 7 p.m.
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Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on social media @Kevin_Durso.
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