Since the Flyers last beat the Blue Jackets in Columbus, so much has changed for them and the NHL landscape. Claude Giroux was still several months away from being drafted, five people have served as head coach, Wells Fargo Center was still called Wachovia Center and fans were still acclimating to the new rules favoring speed and skill. Just one player on the roster, Valtteri Filppula, was playing in the NHL — and even he spent the bulk of the year in the American League. One thing remained the same, though, and it's that they could never, for whatever reason, defeat the Blue Jackets in Columbus. They finally snapped that skid on Friday, however, earning a tough 2-1 win in overtime.
Sean Couturier potted the game-winner in overtime on a two-on-one rush, snapping the 11-game drought. Wayne Simmonds also lit the lamp, earning the game's first goal midway through the 2nd period.
As the game started, Sergei Bobrovsky was looking on top of game, turning away some excellent chances from Couturier and Claude Giroux. It had the feel of one of those narrow games, and that goal scoring would come at a premium.
And after Simmonds' tally — on a redirection from Shayne Gostisbehere — the Flyers did what they could to ensure they could walk out of Nationwide Arena with a tight win. Not exactly the easiest task against a Blue Jackets offense that recorded at least 50 shots in each of their last three games.
Late in the 3rd period, though, the Flyers cracked just a bit. Cam Atkinson netted a backhander from the slot with 3:28 to go, and the Flyers and Blue Jackets headed to the overtime that they've become so accustomed to. From there, Couturier took care of the rest.
After a rough start on Tuesday against New Jersey, Michal Neuvirth turned in a dominant outing, making 35 saves on 36 shots. Bobrovsky wasn't as tested, finishing with 23 saves on 25 shots.
Even more notable for Couturier is that he missed part of the 2nd after leaving with a lower-body injury. He did return before the period could end, none the worse for wear.
Remarkably, the Flyers finished the game without having to kill any penalties. While the Blue Jackets entered the game with the league's worst power play, that kind of discipline will always go far, and helps so much more than it hurts.
With the win, the Flyers have their third-ever win in Columbus. Peter Forsberg, Jeff Carter and Sami Kapanen all scored, while Robert Esche made 23 saves in a 3-1 win on Dec. 13, 2005. The 12-game losing streak was surely one of the weirdest in the league, but it's all over now.
The Flyers will hit the road and next take the ice on Sunday, visiting the New York Rangers for a matinee game.
Box Score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | T | |
| Flyers | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Blue Jackets | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Scoring Summary
1st Period
- None
2nd Period
- PHI – Wayne Simmonds (20, 11:25) from Shayne Gostisbehere (35)
3rd Period
- CBJ – Cam Atkinson (10, 16:32) from David Savard (7) and Dean Kukan (4)
Overtime
- PHI – Sean Couturier (29, 1:52) from Travis Konecny (17)
Game Statistics
| Flyers | Blue Jackets | |
| Shots | 25 | 36 |
| Power Plays | 0/1 | 0/0 |
| Hits | 20 | 17 |
| Faceoff % | 39% | 62% |
| Giveaways | 6 | 3 |
| Takeaways | 11 | 7 |
| Blocked Shots | 19 | 17 |
| Penalty Minutes | 2 | 4 |
