PHILADELPHIA – The Columbus Blue Jackets scored a 3-2 win over the Flyers on Tuesday night.
Zach Werenski #8 of the Columbus Blue Jackets
The win enabled the Blue Jackets to leapfrog the Pittsburgh Penguins into second place in the Metropolitan Division.
“We don’t need any help to get in the playoffs,” Columbus coach Rick Bowness said. “We have a spot, we just have to keep it. … As long as we keep doing what we’re supposed to do and do what we can do in hockey games, the rest will take care of itself.”
Jet Greaves made 24 saves in the win.
The Blue Jackets are 9-1-4 in their last 14 games.
Zach Werenski, Mason Marchment, and Mathieu Olivier were the Columbus strikers.
The Flyers took a 1-0 lead in the second period on a marker from Sean Couturier, but the Blue Jackets responded with a double in the middle frame.
“I think we didn’t execute for about five minutes in there in the second (period) and it cost us the game,” Couturier said. “Other than that, I thought we played a good game.”
Olivier tied the game, 1-1, with just 44 seconds gone in the second.
“Realized it was a 3-on-2, tried to get to the middle of the ice and drive both ‘D’ to me, and I had two options on both sides of me,” Werenski said. “The easier play was to my forehand, so it’s a great play by ‘Ollie’ to finish it.”
Werenski tallied at 2:28 of the second to give the Blue Jackets the lead, for good.
“He’s able to do that when things aren’t going good, take control,” Bowness said. “The whole team struggled in that first period, let’s not kid ourselves. So then when that happens, you need your better players to take over and set the tone. You look at that huge goal ‘Ollie’ got us right off the bat, set up by ‘Z.’ You need your better players to set the tone and they did that.”
The Flyers missed opportunities throughout the game.
“Should have been up 3-0, at least,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said. “Then a couple mistakes by a couple of guys … and then now you’re chasing the game.”
Marchment scored early in the third to make it 3-1 to the Jackets.
Drysdale scored with less than three minutes left on the clock for the 3-2 final.
Dan Vladar made 16 saves in the loss.
Trevor Zegras #46 of the Philadelphia Flyers congratulates fellow Flyer Jamie Drysdale #9 for his goal in the third period against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Jet Greaves #73 of the Columbus Blue Jackets blocks a shot against the Philadelphia Flyers
Mathieu Olivier #24 of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Zach Werenski #8 of the Columbus Blue Jackets celebrates his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers with his teammate Damon Severson #78
A shot by Zach Werenski #8 of the Columbus Blue Jackets scores against goalie Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Mathieu Olivier #24 of the Columbus Blue Jackets is congratulated by his teammates for his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The shot by Mathieu Olivier #24 of the Columbus Blue Jackets gets past Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Sean Couturier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers slides the loose puck past goalie Jet Greaves #73 of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Mason Marchment #17 of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Jet Greaves #73 of the Columbus Blue Jackets uses his stick and skate to stop Noah Cates #27 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Noah Cates #27 of the Philadelphia Flyers attempts to wraparound the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets
Owen Tippett #74 of the Philadelphia Flyers shot is blocked by goalie Jet Greaves #73 of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Erik Gudbranson #44 of the Columbus Blue Jackets attempts to remove Carl Grundstrom #91 of the Philadelphia Flyers from in front of Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves #73
Ivan Provorov #9 of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Jamie Drysdale #9 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Jet Greaves #73 of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Trevor Zegras #46 of the Philadelphia Flyers
