For those waiting for Paul Stastny to do more: The fourth-year Avalanche center had one of those games Monday night that hint he might be able to live up the expectations raised by his $33 million, five-year contract extension.
Stastny had a goal and two assists, and David Jones scored twice as the Avalanche took a three-goal lead after two periods and then held on to snap a losing streak at two games with a 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at the Pepsi Center.
Danny Briere figured in all four Philadelphia goals, with two goals and two assists, and Jeff Carter scored twice as the Flyers rallied — but didn’t make it all the way back.
“We got caught down in the third, and that’s happened to us a couple of times now,” Stastny said. “I thought we played well to get ourselves in a good position. We had a good 50 minutes, and then we stood back. Last time, it was 40 minutes. We need to do the whole 60 minutes.”
Yes, the Avalanche, which blew leads in losses at Edmonton and Vancouver, and the Colorado fans in the mixed-allegiances announced crowd of 13,281 had visions of another collapse.
Trailing by one goal after Carter scored on a power play triggered by a Colorado too-many-men-on-the-ice minor, the Flyers put on pressure in the final two minutes — even with Scott Hartnell in the penalty box for barreling into Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson at 17:51 of the third. Goalie Brian Boucher, who replaced starter Ray Emery after defenseman Scott Hannan scored Colorado’s fourth goal, went off with 58 seconds left to make it a five-on-five.
“To be honest, they could have tied it there, but Andy made a great glove save, one nicked off his glove,” Stastny said.
“I thought for 50 minutes we were skating well and playing our game,” Colorado coach Joe Sacco said.
He noted that a power-play goal midway through the third, with the Flyers’ Dan Carcillo off for cross-checking, would have made it 6-2 and put it away.
“That’s where you have to have that killer instinct,” he said.
Said Anderson, who finished with 30 saves, including 17 in the third period: “It’s great to get the two points, but you don’t want to be outscored in the third period, especially when you get the lead there. There’s going to be a lot of 2-1, 3-2 games, and you have to be sure you show up in the defensive zone. I think we did a great job for about 12, 13 minutes (of the third), and they got the goal that gave them momentum. It’s my job too to make sure they don’t get that goal that gives them momentum.”
Anderson was stunned when Hartnell ran into him, but the play drew a penalty this time, unlike some other instances of see-no-evil interpretations of contact with Anderson — as well as when the skate is on the other foot against Colorado opposing goalies.
“I knocked head a little bit, on the post, maybe,” Anderson said. “It was the initial shock. It wore off.”
Colorado played roughly half the game with five defensemen. Hannan converted a pass from Stastny and beat Emery to make it 4-2 at 9:06 of the second, but he took a hit and suffered a neck injury in the process.
Sacco said the Avalanche didn’t know the severity of the injury, but would know more today.
Terry Frei: 303-954-1895 or tfrei@denverpost.com
Avs Recap
The Post’s three stars
1. Paul Stastny.
Avalanche center had a goal and two assists.
2. Danny Briere.
Figured in all four Flyers scores, with two goals and two assists.
3. David Jones.
Colorado winger missed an opportunity for a hat trick with an empty net, settled for two goals.
What you might have missed
Avalanche winger Marek Svatos got into his first NHL fight, against the Flyers’ Claude Giroux late in the second period.
Up next
Vs. Nashville, Wed., 7 p.m.
Terry Frei, The Denver Post
