That game is Saturday at home against the Ottawa Senators, and it shapes everything here. If the Flyers win it, this is a team trying to string 2 together. If they don't, the Avalanche arrive as the next opponent for a club 10 games into a franchise-worst start, with every shift in a tight game feeling heavier than the last. Colorado has no game in between. The Avalanche last played a 5-2 home win over Pittsburgh, so they get a few days to travel east.
The Pittsburgh win is a decent model of how Colorado plays when the first period doesn't go its way. The Penguins scored twice early and led 2-1 at Ball Arena. Then Colorado shut them out over the final 40 minutes with 4 straight goals, 3 of them in the second period. They did it without centers Nicolas Roy and Zachary L'Heureux, who are both listed out. Logan O'Connor is on long-term IR and Georgii Merkulov is on non-roster IR, so Colorado's depth is thinner than usual. The top of the lineup has covered for it so far.
Philadelphia's blue line could be getting healthier. Rasmus Ristolainen (upper body) didn't travel to Detroit, but PHLY Sports' Charlie O'Connor reported he's closing in on a return, and Cam York is day-to-day. Getting both back would give the Flyers a sturdier back end against a Colorado team that put up 7 in Calgary and 5 on Pittsburgh. To be fair, the Flyers have kept games close. 3 of their last 5 losses were by 1 goal, and the defense hasn't been the problem. The offense has to give that defense a lead to protect, and that hasn't happened yet this season.