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Flyers get shut out for the third straight time in a 2-0 loss to the Avalanche

The shutout streak is now 180 minutes, 15 seconds. Colorado goalie Mackenzie Blackwood stopped all 24 Flyers shots.

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood during a game against the St. Louis Blues on Friday.
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood during a game against the St. Louis Blues on Friday. Read moreDavid Zalubowski / AP

DENVER — History was made on Sunday. And not in a good way for the Flyers.

They suffered a 2-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, marking the first time in franchise history that the Orange and Black have been shut out in three straight games in the regular season. In the 2002 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, the Flyers were shut out in three straight games by the Ottawa Senators before losing in five.

The shutout streak is now 180 minutes, 15 seconds. It ranks second behind the regular-season record of 199 minutes, 43 seconds set Jan. 24-30, 2003, over a four-game span.

“Obviously lately not scoring, it’s frustrating,” captain Sean Couturier said. “Seems like there’s a lot of one-and-dones and not a whole lot of O-zone possession.”

The game marked the first time the Flyers skated without Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee, who were traded following Thursday night’s 3-0 loss to the New York Islanders. The Flyers were shut out, 5-0, the previous night by the New Jersey Devils.

With the newly acquired Jakob Pelletier and Andrei Kuzmenko still in Canada due to visa issues, coach John Tortorella went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen, including Emil Andrae who was recalled Saturday from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League.

The Flyers have lost four of their last five games. Former Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood turned away all 24 Flyers shots to post his second straight shutout for Colorado.

Scoring drought continues

The Flyers last scored on a goalie in the second period of the team’s 4-2 win against the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 27. Garnet Hathaway got the marker, making the drought with a goaltender in net 217:11. Scott Laughton had an empty-netter with 15 seconds left in the win for the official drought of 180:15.

On Sunday afternoon, they tried to get on the board early, going toe-to-toe with the offensively gifted Avalanche. Rodrigo Ābols, slotted in on the first line, had the Flyers' best chance in the first period when Travis Sanheim found him in the slot for a dead-on scoring chance. The Flyers had 10 shots on goal in the first period, including a shot by Laughton off an offensive-zone faceoff.

“Yeah, we had the puck more, still didn’t develop a whole bunch,” Tortorella said.

“I don’t think we’re developing as much as we’ve had a couple of weeks ago,” he added. “Got some chances tonight. We just haven’t put the puck in the net.”

In the second period, the Flyers had seven shots on goal, with Hathaway and Ābols getting the best chances in tight. Ābols' deflection with 15:14 to go was the Flyers' last until Tyson Foerster got a shot with 6:17 left in the frame. It was the team’s last shot on goal in the period.

The Flyers had seven more shots in the third period, with Hathaway getting the best chance as he crashed the net. Philly got its only power play of the game with 5:21 left but could muster only one shot on goal.

“We are getting our looks, there’s no doubt about that,” said Noah Cates, who had that lone power-play shot. “But whether it’s screens or tips, [it] just kind of always seems to be an ugly one that gets you through this. It’s not going to be a pretty one to change the tide and get us going offensively and finding our spark again.”

Ersson returns

Sam Ersson made his first start since getting pulled Wednesday when he allowed four goals on 16 shots to the Devils.

Aside from the score, he looked sharp despite not seeing his first shot until 12:37 into the first period. Ersson stopped the six shots he faced in the opening frame, including a big pad save on a one-timer by Cale Makar off a circle-to-circle pass.

But in the second period, the Avalanche’s talent started to come through and they poured 18 shots on goal. Ersson did his best to stand tall, robbing Colorado newbie Martin Necas’ backdoor attempt. The shot totals after that save were 17-3 Colorado, which included a pair of goals.

The Flyers have allowed a goal in six straight second periods, getting outscored 11-1. So it’s not a surprise the Avalanche broke through.

The first goal came after Laughton carried the puck down the ice on a two-on-one but sent his shot wide of the net, allowing the Avalanche to go the other way with their own odd-man rush. Sanheim got back but Casey Mittelstadt found the trailer Sam Girardi for the goal that beat Ersson blocker-side.

The Swedish netminder then made another sliding save on a two-on-one, this time stoning Nathan MacKinnon. But the Canadian found the net later in the period, scoring a power-play goal from the dot in the left faceoff circle.

Ersson made 30 saves on 32 shots.

“I cannot focus on it,” Ersson said when asked if he feels added pressure with the lack of Flyers goals. “I know it’s going to turn sooner or later. The bounces are not with us right now. But soon we’ll turn and we’ll get a couple bounces so it’s just a matter of time.”

Breakaways

Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen did not play after the second goal by Colorado. According to Tortorella, he suffered an undisclosed injury. ... With his parents in the stands, Jacob Gaucher made his NHL debut on Sunday. Called up from Lehigh Valley on Saturday, the center skated 8:08 with two shots on goal and won 3 of 3 in the faceoff circle. ... General manager Danny Brière did not hold his press conference on the trade until Saturday morning because of a preplanned scouting trip out west. Brière and president Keith Jones watched Alex Bump and Western Michigan University take on Colorado College on Saturday night. Bump had an assist for Jones' alma mater. ... Forwards Owen Tippett and Nick Deslauriers were on the trip but did not play. Tippett was injured Wednesday on a hit by Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon. Deslauriers has not played since being placed on injured reserve in early December with an upper-body injury.

Up next

The Flyers will practice in Salt Lake City on Monday before taking on the Utah Hockey Club for the first time on Tuesday (9 p.m., NBCSP).