PHILADELPHIA – A big first period for the Columbus Blue Jackets helped them to a 5-3 win over the Flyers Thursday night.
It was the Jackets’ sixth straight win as they now sit in the first wild card spot in the east.
Defenseman Ian Cole (#23) of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Center Claude Giroux (#28) of the Philadelphia Flyers battle in from of the net.
Cam Atkinson scored a hat trick in the win as Columbus improved to 38-28-5.
Oliver Bjorkstrand and Boone Jenner also struck for goals for the Blue Jackets.
“We’re playing some of our best hockey now,” Jenner said. “We’re feeling good in the room, we’re feeling confident every night going into a game.”
On the flip side, the Flyers are in a tail spin with a 1-6-1 record over the last eight games.
Andrew MacDonald, Claude Giroux and Shayne Gostisbehere scored for the Flyers as they dropped to 35-25-11,
“Their team was a little more ready to play and that squarely comes to me,” Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol said. “I thought their team was a little more ready to play in that first 20 minutes, and that can’t happen at this time of year.”
The Flyers had been threatening the top spot in the Metropolitan Division but have now dropped to third and are tied with the Jackets for third but they still hold a tie breaker.
“We just talked about the position we’re in right now and what we need to do to get better,” Giroux said. “Right now, we’re all frustrated, a little [ticked] off. But that’s good. When we get that one win, we’ll get our confidence back.”
[WATCH:Â All Blue Jackets vs. Flyers highlights]
Petr Mrazek got the start for Philadelphia but was pulled after yielding four goals on just 10 shots.
“It’s a tough stretch right now. We’ve been in this position before. We just need to put it behind us and get our confidence back,” Giroux said.
Alex Lyon made 18 saves as the Flyers tried to rally late; he did not allow a goal in relief as Atkinson completed the hat trick on an empty net.
Columbus Blue Jackets Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (#72) peers around Right Wing Wayne Simmonds (#17) of the Philadelphia Flyers as Center Pierre-Luc Dubois (#18) of the Columbus Blue Jackets trys to move Simmonds out of the crease.
Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (#72) of the Columbus Blue Jackets watches the puck enter the net in the second period.
Goalie Alex Lyon (#49) of the Philadelphia Flyers makes a save as Left Wing Nick Foligno (#71) of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks for the rebound.
Center Sean Couturier (#14) and Center Travis Konecny (#11) of the Philadelphia Flyers. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (#72) and Defenseman Ian Cole (#23) of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Goalie Alex Lyon (#49) of the Philadelphia Flyers makes a save as Left Wing Thomas Vanek (#26) of the Columbus Blue Jackets move towards the net.
Goalie Alex Lyon (#49) of the Philadelphia Flyers looks for the shot as his teammates hold off the Columbus Blue Jacket payers.
Right Wing Jakub Voracek (#93) of the Philadelphia Flyers fights for the puck against Defenseman Jack Johnson (#7) of the Columbus Blue Jackets
Right Wing Cam Atkinson (#13) of the Columbus Blue Jackets tips the puck past Goalie Petr Mrazek (#34) of the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers Captain Claude Giroux (#28) and Center Travis Konecny (#11) celebrate Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (not pictured) goal in the second period.
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