PHILADELPHIA – Flyer defenseman Erik Johnson’s former teammates on the Colorado Avalanche donated some generous gifts to his 1,000-game celebration on Monday night, then they quickly spoiled the party.
The Avalanche dominated the Flyers for long stretches of the game and came away with a 3-2 win at the Wells Fargo Center, ending Philadelphia’s point streak at five games (4-0-1).
Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog presented Johnson with a framed portrait and gifted his family with a trip to Napa, California. Then the Avalanche players became ungracious guests.
The Avalanche took a 2-0 lead in the second period, both goals scored by defenseman Cale Makar, who could very easily have had a third.
Makar, whom the Flyers had a chance to take in the 2017 NHL Draft but opted instead for Nolan Patrick (who is now out of hockey), scored with a shot from the top of the slot past Aleksei Kolosov at 8:30.
Next, he had a goal waved off after he put another shot past Kolosov at 10:45. Officials reviewed the play and canceled it, stating goaltender interference on Jonathan Drouin.
But Makar wasn’t done yet. With the Flyers’ Matvei Michkov in the penalty box, the Colorado defenseman cranked up another rocket which nicked off defenseman Nick Seeler and eluded Kolosov at 13:52.
Colorado made it 3-0 with a power-play goal from Casey Mittelstadt at 8:34 of the third.
Then the Flyers rallied late on goals by Owen Tippett and Tyson Foerster to make things interesting.
“I felt we played better as the game went on,” coach John Tortorella said. “We struggled with their quickness.”
A back-and-forth first period did not produce any goals but there was one pretty scary moment.
Ref Mitch Dunning had his back turned when Colorado defenseman Josh Manson cut across the blue line, didn’t see the official and hit him full force from behind.
Dunning crumpled to the ice and lay motionless for several minutes. Trainers rushed to the ice and quickly attended to the official, who appeared to briefly lose consciousness. Eventually he was placed on a stretcher, was immobilized and left to a nice round of applause. He was transported to a Philadelphia for observation. Early reports on his condition were promising.
Tippett scored at 11:43 of the third period to help the Flyers avoid a shutout. Tippett found the net with a shot from about 30 feet out.
Then Foerster dug out a puck stuck in the crease and made it 3-2 at 13:32. But the Flyers could not break through for the tying goal.
Goaltender Justus Annunen recorded the victory for the Avalanche.
That’s goals in two straight games for Foerster.
“If they’re not going in, you want to get to the dirty areas,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been doing. It would be nice to get the win but scoring is nice. I’ve been emphasizing on my stick battles, winning all the loose pucks in the ‘D’ zone. I feel like I’m doing that a little bit better than I was.”
Tippett seems to have a knack for scoring goals in big spots this season.
“They’re a quick team and maybe we gave them a little more room than we should have,” he said. “
>Johnson honored for 1,000th
Johnson, who played the better part of 12 years in Colorado, was honored by the home team for playing in his 1,000th NHL game on Saturday night against Buffalo. Johnson’s family was on hand to watch a video tribute. Everyone received cheers from an appreciative audience.
Johnson is the fifth NHL player to hit the 1,000 mark this season. The others are former Flyer Luke Schenn, Tyler Myers, Mickael Backlund and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
For his career, in regular-season play Johnson has blocked 1,699 shots, delivered 1,657 hits and scored six overtime goals. He began his career with the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 4, 2007. Only 133 defensemen have played 1,000 games in the NHL.
The Flyers presented Johnson’s family with an engraved silver stick and a Tiffany Crystal provided by the NHL, as well as a commemorative bottle of wine and a Rolex watch.
>Grans passes first test
Defenseman Helge Grans, just called up from Lehigh Valley, played well and received praise from Tortorella.
“He played great,” the coach said. Grans finished with a team best plus-2 in 16 minutes of ice time, had two blocked shots and picked up an assist on Foerster’s goal.
“He’s pretty poised and controlled back there,” Tippett observed. “He’s solid. Good to see him get an assist.”
Said Grans: “Lots of fun. I got more and more minutes during the game. They have lots of speed, skill, so you have to play hard defensively. I just tried to play the way we play in AHL.”
>Konecny takes blame for first goal
Travis Konecny was pretty hard on himself in post-game interviews. He left center Nathan MacKinnon unguarded on Colorado’s first goal.
“It’s tough,” Tortorella said. “Just left the best player in the world. If we’re going to get over the hump, that can’t happen. Not from a guy I’m depending on.”
Said Konecny: “For myself, that first goal was my fault. It’s a bad read. I’m puck-watching. It’s frustrating when you look at the end of the game and it’s a one-goal game.”
>Short shots
On Wednesday the Flyers are back in action as they play host to the Carolina Hurricanes. . . Defenseman Egor Zamula left the game in the third and did not return to action.
