Avalanche 4, Flyers 0
PHILADELPHIA -- The Colorado Avalanche kicked off a vital stretch of games with a 4-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center.
The Avalanche (5-9-1), who opened a seven-game road trip, were led by a pair of goals from center Matt Duchene and a shutout from backup goaltender Reto Berra.
Right winger Jarome Iginla and left winger Cody McLeod also scored for Colorado, which starting Tuesday plays 14 of its next 18 games away from home.
Meanwhile, the Flyers (5-7-3) came home after a 1-3-1 road trip and did little different on their ice. Philadelphia was outshot 40-25 and has one win since Oct. 27.
Berra (2-3-0) delivered his second shutout in five starts. He came in with a 1.85 goals-against average and made 25 saves.
Flyers backup goalie Michal Neuvirth (3-3-1) surrendered a season-high four goals. He was making his fourth straight start.
Frustration boiled over for Philadelphia in the third and capped the embarrassing loss. Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas deliberately body-slammed center Carl Soderberg after a whistle, leading to a power play for Colorado, which took advantage when McLeod scored to make it 4-0.
Soderberg recorded his second assist of the game on the goal.
Iginla got Colorado on the board just 57 seconds into the game with a fortuitous goal. Iginla soft-served a shot at Neuvirth's left leg pad, which was hugging the goal post. Somehow the puck found its way between the pad and post and trickled across the goal line for a 1-0 Avalanche lead.
Iginla has 11 goals in 23 career games against the Flyers.
The Avalanche again wasted no time in the second, scoring 25 seconds into the period on a marker by Duchene. Center Nathan MacKinnon's wraparound attempt on Neuvirth bounced right to Duchene attacking the net, and he easily put it home for a 2-0 advantage.
Duchene then added his second goal -- and sixth of the season -- less than four minutes later on a snapshot assisted by defensemen Nick Guenin and Tyson Barrie.
NOTES: Flyers backup G Michal Neuvirth made his fourth consecutive start. Flyers starting G Steve Mason (sick) has been out and needs more practice time before returning in net. ... Avalanche backup G Reto Berra made his second straight start and fifth of the season. He entered with an impressive 1.85 goals-against average and .943 save percentage. ... Flyers C Vincent Lecavalier was inserted into the lineup for C R.J. Umberger, who was out with an undisclosed injury. ... Avalanche C John Mitchell (oblique) missed his fourth game in a row. Entering Tuesday, Mitchell was tied for third on the team in goals (four). ... Flyers RW Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (lower body) and Evgeny Medvedev (upper body) remained sidelined. ... LW Alex Tanguay (knee) and C Jesse Winchester were out for the Avalanche. Winchester has yet to play this season.