With its top 12 forwards playing together for the first time since taking a 7-0-1 record into St. Louis on Oct. 21, the Avalanche carried confidence and a seven-game points streak into Wednesday night’s nationally televised game against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers.
Make it eight, as right winger Mikko Rantanen scored twice on beautiful passes from centers Nathan MacKinnon and Nazem Kadri in a 3-1 victory at the Pepsi Center.
Colorado (20-8-3) became the first Western Conference team to reach 20 wins and surpassed St. Louis, the defending Stanley Cup champion, with a conference-most 43 points.
“It’s good depth.