Flyers Keep Falling with Loss to Columbus

(Kate Frese/Sports Talk Philly)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

After the heartbreak of Saturday's loss, the road ahead for the Flyers was no easier. It showed on Monday night.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, still very much alive in the race for the Metropolitan Division title, helped dash the Flyers quickly fading playoff hopes some more with a 5-3 win on Monday at Wells Fargo Center.

Columbus jumped out to a quick two-goal lead in the first.

After a failed clear, sustained pressure by the Blue Jackets led to a goal. Sam Gagner was on the right end of a slap shot from the high slot, beating Steve Mason for the first goal of the game. It was the 18th goal of the season for the former Flyer.

Just one minute later, Cam Atkinson got a breakaway — Columbus was actually in 2-on-0 — and used a nice move to fool Mason to make it 2-0.

The Flyers got one back with just under six minutes to play in the first. On a delayed penalty, Shayne Gostisbehere set up a cutting Travis Konecny with a pass. Konecny let go a wrister from the left circle that beat Sergei Bobrovsky to cut the lead to one.

After one period, the Flyers trailed by one while Columbus held the 11-10 shot advantage.

An early power play in the second allowed the Flyers to tie the game. Claude Giroux set up Brayden Schenn for a one-timer from the slot to even the game at two.

Konecny struck again, using a great individual effort and a high-rising snap shot to give the Flyers the lead with 8:57 left in the second.

Columbus tied the game with 5:30 to go, as Zach Werenski's quick shot off a face-off beat a screened Mason.

Going to the third, the teams were tied at three with the Blue Jackets holding a 21-19 shot lead.

In the third, after the Flyers had failed to capitalize on several power plays, Columbus got their second of the game and took full advantage. Brandon Dubinsky's shot from the left circle found the net to give Columbus the lead at 8:46 of the third.

The Flyers got a power play with 4:01 to play, their eighth of the game, and again failed to take advantage. With the net empty in the closing stages of the third, Atkinson scored his second goal of the game to seal the win for Columbus.

The Blue Jackets outshot the Flyers, 29-26.

The Flyers dropped their third straight game in regulation. With 14 games remaining, the Flyers are six points out of the final playoff spot. 

The Flyers return on Wednesday night to face the Pittsburgh Penguins. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• CBJ Sam Gagner (18) (Boone Jenner, Oliver Bjorkstrand) 7:42
• CBJ Cam Atkinson (31) (Zach Werenski) 8:42
• PHI Travis Konecny (9) (Shayne Gostisbehere, Sean Couturier) 14:10

2nd Period

• PHI Brayden Schenn (20) PP (Claude Giroux) 4:23
• PHI Konecny (10) (Matt Read, Radko Gudas) 11:03
• CBJ Zach Werenski (10) (Seth Jones, Matt Calvert) 14:30

3rd Period

• CBJ Brandon Dubinsky (10) PP (Brandon Saad, Jones) 8:46
• CBJ Atkinson (32) (Saad) 19:39

Game Statistics