Flyers-Blue Jackets: Postgame Points

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

A difficult weekend was on its way to a disappointing end when a last-minute goal earned the Flyers one point in the standings.

Unfortunately, they couldn't grab the second one in overtime as the Columbus Blue Jackets returned to the win column after back-to-back losses with a 2-1 overtime win against the Flyers on Sunday night.

It was certainly an interesting game with a lot of ups and downs. Here are 10 Postgame Points from Flyers-Blue Jackets.

  1. Brayden Schenn's goal with 16.5 seconds left was poetic justice. Schenn lifted a shot high and wide with a wide open net in front of him in the second that would have tied the game. He missed wide on a backhand rebound chance earlier in the third. He finally finished on a chance in the closing seconds.
  2. It certainly seemed like Sergei Bobrovsky would not be solved at all. The Flyers were less than 20 seconds away from being shutout for the third time in their last seven games. That may be because for so much of the game, Bobrovsky wasn't heavily tested. Credit Columbus a ton for that. It was one-and-done for the Flyers so many times.
  3. So what is goaltender interference? After watching this game, I don't know anymore. The Flyers scored the game's first goal, or so it appeared, before a challenge for goalie interference ultimately led to the goal being overturned. There was no apparent contact by a Flyer on Bobrovsky on the goal. It should have counted.
  4. Speaking of interference, where was the penalty on Nick Foligno for his manhandling of Travis Konecny in the first? Interference, roughing, boarding — it qualified as all three. A non-call there was simply baffling.
  5. Of course, then, it was Foligno who tallied the game-winning goal in overtime. But the play was one that should have been avoided. The Flyers have been so good in the 3-on-3 overtime because they have an understanding that possession is key. So why Jake Voracek felt the need to force a pass toward the net with half of the overtime remaining didn't make any sense. Then when the pass was blocked and Columbus charged the other way on a 2-on-1, Voracek casually back into the play. He could have attempted to nullify a chance for Foligno, the trailer on the play. 
  6. I really can't figure out the benefit to playing Dale Weise in the 3-on-3 overtime. It just seems like a recipe for disaster. That said, the Flyers critical mistake in overtime came with the top overtime group on the ice.
  7. The Flyers penalty killing was excellent in the game, even being shorthanded just two times. The Flyers faced an inexcusable too many men on the ice penalty in the third and successfully killed it off with determined work in their own zone. This was the top-ranked power play in the NHL and the Flyers didn't allow them to get a quality chance, even with so much zone time.
  8. Before scoring the tying goal in the final seconds, the Blue Jackets just toyed with the Flyers as they tried to gain possession. For over a minute, they could not gain possession to get Steve Mason to the bench.
  9. Speaking of Mason, there wasn't much he could have done on either goal. While Mason did look like he got a piece of Foligno's game-winning goal, allowing one goal on an odd-man rush and another through a screen certainly doesn't fall on him. For over 60 minutes, the Blue Jackets, who had scored so much over their lengthy 16-game winning streak, could only solve Mason twice. That's a credit to the goalie and the defense in front of him.
  10. Columbus just isn't kind to the Flyers. This is now nine straight losses for the Flyers in Columbus, which has become a dreaded destination in years past.

Bottom Line

This game was a good test for the Flyers and for the most part, they passed it. The Flyers could have used a second win to round out the weekend, but getting just two points and falling by virtue of another shutout would have been a unsuccessful weekend.

The loss stings because overtime is not a matter of who plays better, but who makes the most of the inevitable chances. But getting one point was a necessity and they did it. That at least allows them to build on two good performances heading into a busy week with four games in six days.

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