Matvei Michkov scored twice as the Philadelphia Flyers edged the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Monday night, securing their second straight win after a rough start to the season. Michkov’s goals helped the Flyers bounce back from a nine-game losing streak to open the campaign.
Michkov opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 7:41 of the first period. He doubled the lead early in the second, skating around the net before firing a long-range wrist shot that found the glove side of Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood at 12:23. Philadelphia went into the second intermission with a 2-0 advantage.
Colorado’s Martin Necas cut the deficit to one with a goal late in the second period, at 17:52. The Avalanche pressed for an equalizer in the third, with rookie T.J. Hughes scoring at 14:40 to pull Colorado within one again. Hughes has now scored in two consecutive games after opening his NHL account in Friday’s victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Noel Acciari restored Philadelphia’s two-goal lead at 6:34 of the third period, scoring his first goal as a Flyer. The 3-2 scoreline held as Joseph Woll made 24 saves to earn his first victory in a Flyers uniform. Woll joined Philadelphia after spending five seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The win snapped Philadelphia’s nine-game losing streak, which included six regulation losses and three defeats in overtime or shootouts. The Flyers had struggled to find their footing before a breakthrough victory over Ottawa on Saturday.
Cole Knuble made his NHL debut for Philadelphia, appearing for 13 minutes and 44 seconds. The 22-year-old right wing grew up as a Flyers fan and is the son of Mike Knuble, who played for Philadelphia from 2005 to 2009 and briefly in 2013.
For the Avalanche, last season’s Presidents’ Trophy winners, Mackenzie Blackwood faced 21 shots but could not hold the lead. Colorado’s record dropped to 5-3-1 with the loss.
Philadelphia will visit Buffalo on Wednesday, while Colorado travels to New Jersey on Tuesday.
According to Yahoo Sports.
