After losing in regulation for the first time in nearly a month, the Columbus Blue Jackets look to begin a new point streak Tuesday when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers.
Columbus (37-22-11, 85 points) surged up the standings with their recent 8-0-4 stretch before falling 1-0 to the New York Islanders on Sunday. After scoring 16 goals in their previous three games, the Blue Jackets were blanked by Ilya Sorokin to suffer their first regulation loss since Feb. 26.
“You’ve got to capitalize on your chances when you get them,” defenseman Damon Severson said.
Still, the Blue Jackets players and coaches were generally positive about the team’s performance in the opener of a three-game road trip that continues in Philadelphia and then wraps up in Montreal.
“I liked our game,” forward Mathieu Olivier said. “We play like that, we’re going to win most games. Take this one (and move on) to the next one.”
In net, Columbus received another strong effort from Jet Greaves, who saved 21 of 22 shots. He has yielded six total goals in his last four games.
“It’s not going to be perfect,” said Greaves, who turns 25 next week. “We’d love for it to be only wins, but that’s obviously not how it goes. The biggest thing is just the response from our group. … The game in Philly — that’s the biggest game now, so just one day at a time.”
The Blue Jackets sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 12 games remaining. A collection of teams is breathing down their necks in the wild-card race, including the Flyers (34-23-12, 80 points).
Philadelphia is 5-0-1 in its last six games with the only loss in that stretch coming at home against Columbus on March 14. Kirill Marchenko scored the Blue Jackets’ only goal in regulation that day and later netted the lone tally of the shootout in a 2-1 triumph.
After absorbing that loss, the Flyers went to California and swept three games against the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks. In the trip-ending 4-1 win over the Sharks, Christian Dvorak scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and Dan Vladar made 24 saves for Philadelphia.
“I think these guys are trying to build an identity. There’s some good stuff here, and they are doing a good job,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said. “We’re blocking out the outside noise, and we’re being positive in here. It’s showing on the ice.”
Owen Tippett also scored for Philadelphia, giving him five goals in the last eight games. He is four goals shy of his career high (28), set two seasons ago.
“I like where my game is at right now. Consistent all the way through, contributing,” Tippett said. “It is easy to do when everyone is doing it around you, too.”
The Flyers prevailed in three tight games on their recent road trip. They topped the Ducks 3-2 in overtime and edged the Kings 4-3 in a shootout before scoring two late empty-netters to prevail 4-1 over the Sharks.
“I think it’s just a belief and a will,” Tippett said. “This was a really good road trip for us.”
–Field Level Media
