Flyers Manage to Force OT, but Blue Jackets Prevail

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

After very limited production, the Flyers managed to get 13 shots on goal in the third period. One of them managed to go in to tie the game with under seven minutes to play.

The Flyers had to settle for overtime, but still had an opportunity to claim a key win over a divisional opponent. Despite controlling most of the overtime, the star power from Columbus was just too much.

The Blue Jackets claimed a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night as Seth Jones scored with 32.3 seconds remaining in the overtime.

The Flyers got on the board early with a power play goal. Claude Giroux went across ice to Jake Voracek, who fired a shot past Sergei Bobrovsky for the opening goal at 3:30.

The Blue Jackets tied the game at 10:45 right after the end of a power play of their own. Oliver Bjorkstrand capitalized off a broken play as Boone Jenner fed him with a pass from the side of the net while falling down. The Flyers challenged for goalie interference, but the call was confirmed.

Bjorkstrand tallied again just a few minutes later, but the goal was reviewed for a kicking motion and disallowed after replay. The Flyers scored moments after that with James van Riemsdyk getting a rebound, but Columbus challenged for offside and won that, nullifying the Flyers goal.

The Flyers did take the lead before the end of the period on a good hockey goal. After Nolan Patrick hit the post on a rebound chance, Travis Konecny kept the play alive in front and Travis Sanheim buried the rebound.

After 20 minutes, Columbus led in shots, 14-9.

Columbus dominated the second period, outshooting the Flyers, 10-6, and scoring the only goal of the period as Artemi Panarin got room down low and tucked a shot past Brian Elliott.

In the third, Columbus took the lead at 4:15 on a point shot by Scott Harrington that went over the glove of Elliott for his second goal of the season.

With 6:48 remaining in the third, Sanheim added his second off a brilliant feed from Voracek to tie the game.

Down the stretch, Columbus started pushing play again, but the Flyers survived the flurry of chances and got the game to overtime.

For most of the overtime, the Flyers had control of the puck and zone time. It wasn't until a late chance that Bobrovsky stopped easily that Columbus was able to get control and move down the ice.

Panarin carried into the zone and breezed by a tired Giroux, turning the play into a two-on-one. He fed across for Jones for the game-winning goal with 32.3 seconds left in the overtime to give Columbus the win.

Elliott made 36 saves in the loss. Bobrovsky again burned his former team, making 28 saves in the win.

Panarin had a goal and an assist for Columbus. Sanheim and Voracek each had multi-point games. 

The Flyers did pick up a point in the standings, cutting the deficit to a playoff spot to six points of both Pittsburgh and Carolina, but Columbus' win allowed them to leapfrog back into the third spot in the Metro.

Columbus swept the Flyers in the season series, winning two of the four games in overtime.

The Flyers get back in action quickly as they travel to face the New Jersey Devils on Friday night at 7 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• PHI Jake Voracek (18) PP (Claude Giroux, Shayne Gostisbehere) 3:30
• CBJ Oliver Bjorkstrand (13) (Boone Jenner, Josh Anderson) 10:45
• PHI Travis Sanheim (7) (Travis Konecny, Nolan Patrick) 18:00

2nd Period

• CBJ Artemi Panarin (25) (Zach Werenski) 7:31

3rd Period

• CBJ Scott Harrington (2) (Ryan Dzingel, Matt Duchene) 4:15
• PHI Sanheim (8) (Voracek, Ivan Provorov) 13:12

Overtime

• CBJ Seth Jones (8) (Panarin) 4:27

Game Statistics