For the Flyers, it didn't matter that they outshot the Avalanche by a total of 33-27. Or that their penalty kill - without leading killers Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux - managed to remain perfect against the third-ranked power play in the NHL.
"The point is good," coach Peter Laviolette said. "But I don't know. I have a hard time saying that I'm happy about a loss. I was really disappointed with the second period. We were too casual, out-chanced too badly. We just gave up too many chances and didn't generate enough."
The Avalanche dealt the Flyers their first road loss since Nov. 26 at the New York Rangers, a gap in time not long ago, but a span of six road games. It was the Flyers' first blemish this season (13-0-1) when skating to the locker room with any lead after the first 20 minutes. And with the Bruins' win in Montreal last night, today marks the first time since Dec. 9 that the Flyers awake not atop the Eastern Conference standings.
In the first period, Scott Hartnell continued his hot streak by netting his 15th point over the last 15 games with a power-play goal. Hartnell one-timed the puck behind Jean-Sebastien Giguere off a slick, cross-slot pass from Jakub Voracek.
Colorado never took the game over completely, but got even when Gabriel Landeskog froze Bryzgalov with a shifty, forehand-to-backhand move only feet away from the crease. It was Landeskog's sixth goal of the season, as the No. 2 overall pick in last June's draft, and just his first on home ice.
Simmonds, who was officially credited with the goal despite a late whack by Danny Briere, at least managed to send the Flyers off to Dallas for tomorrow's game with one point in their pocket.
