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Flyers jump out fast, hold on to beat Avalanche

The Flyers continued their winning ways during their homestand, but it wasn't easy in their 4-3 win Saturday over the Colorado Avalanche at the Wells Fargo Center.

Philadelphia Flyers' Claude Giroux (28), right, maneuvers the puck followed by Colorado Avalanche's Jan Hejda (8), left, during the second period of their NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, in Philadelphia. (Tom Mihalek/AP)
Philadelphia Flyers' Claude Giroux (28), right, maneuvers the puck followed by Colorado Avalanche's Jan Hejda (8), left, during the second period of their NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, in Philadelphia. (Tom Mihalek/AP)Read more

The Flyers continued their winning ways during their homestand, but it wasn't easy in their 4-3 win Saturday over the Colorado Avalanche at the Wells Fargo Center.

The power-play unit scored three times and looked healthy, which is more than can be said about the organization's defensemen.

A 4-0 lead, with three goals coming on the power play, also looked healthy before Colorado scored three unanswered goals and put some serious late-game pressure on goalie Steve Mason.

It was the Flyers' third straight win, all at home. The four-game homestand will end Friday against Columbus.

Before the game, the Flyers announced that Phantoms defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere will have surgery Thursday for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

During the game, defenseman Luke Schenn suffered an upper-body injury.

Schenn went sliding into the boards after a hit from Nathan MacKinnon with 52.7 seconds left in the first period. That drew a five-minute major penalty, during which the Flyers scored twice.

Schenn did not return.

Defenseman Braydon Coburn played his first game since suffering a left foot injury in the season opener at Boston. Coburn was paired with Schenn.

MacKinnon accepted the blame for the hit on Schenn.

"It was a dumb play by me," he said. "I was just trying to turn him the other way with my hand. I definitely take responsibility for the hit."

The Flyers players were calling for a game misconduct. Flyers coach Craig Berube explained why MacKinnon wasn't tossed.

"There is a rule and it has to be a facial injury, a head injury," he said.

The Schenn injury added to the blue-line woes. Flyers defenseman Andrew McDonald hasn't played since suffering a knee injury on Oct. 22. Another top prospect, Sam Morin, has a broken jaw.

After the boarding call, Claude Giroux scored on a wrist shot from the left circle with 2.8 seconds left in the first period. Wayne Simmonds provided an outstanding screen in front of the net.

Still on the power play, Simmonds took a pass from Giroux in front of the goal and converted early in the second period.

Brayden Schenn made it 3-0 with 8:36 left in the second period, converting Matt Read's behind-the-net pass.

When Giroux scored on the power play while in front on a feed from Vinny Lecavalier with 3:38 left in the second period, the Flyers had what looked like a comfortable 4-0 lead.

"We did a lot of good things, kind of got that big lead, and sat back, and [we] need to find a way to keep pushing and play the same way," said Giroux, who had a two goals and an assist.

Colorado got third-period goals from former Flyer Max Talbot, Alex Tanguay, and Zach Redmond.

With 2:48 left and trailing by 4-3, Colorado had one final power play and applied pressure even after the penalty was killed, but the Flyers were able to hold the Avalanche off. Mason made several big saves.

"It is obviously good to get a win, but it is not the way we want to play in the third period," said Jake Voracek, who had three assists. ". . . We found a way to win but have to be on our toes in the third period."

@sjnard