Jackets host Flyers amid offensive struggles
Columbus and Philadelphia both seek their first win in several weeks as they meet in the second meeting of their season series.
By Jack Thompson ·
Two Metropolitan Division teams searching for momentum collide in Columbus on Saturday.
The Blue Jackets host the Flyers in the second matchup between the clubs this season. Columbus took the first contest 4-3 in overtime on Oct. 27, extending its winning streak against Philadelphia to six games.
The Jackets have won just two of their last seven games since that victory. They enter Saturday on a three-game losing streak, having fallen to the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning.
In the recent loss to Tampa, Columbus tied the game 1-1 in the first period on a goal by Matthew Knies. The team was outshot 11-5 in the second period but allowed two goals in the third despite leading in shots.
Goaltender Jet Greaves recorded 25 saves in that defeat. Columbus currently has the fewest non-shootout goals in the league with 40.
Defenseman Ivan Provorov said the team must improve its scoring efficiency. He noted that the issue is not attitude or effort, but the need to create more traffic and deflections to put pucks in the net.
Philadelphia has lost four of its last five games, including two overtime defeats in its last three. The Flyers fell 3-2 to the Edmonton Oilers in their previous outing.
Philadelphia outshot Edmonton 13-6 in the first period and 16-7 in the second, yet trailed 2-1 after two periods. Travis Sanheim tied the game at 11:42 of the third period with his third goal of the season.
The Flyers failed to register a shot on goal in overtime before Evan Bouchard beat goaltender Dan Vladar, who made 21 saves. Center Sean Couturier stated that the team played well and competed hard but missed out on the final chance to win.
Rick Tocchet, the Flyers head coach, described the performance against Edmonton as structured. He identified the overtime loss as the only negative aspect of the game, calling the rest of the effort a real positive.
The Flyers are currently on a five-game road trip that has included stops in New York, Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton. They hold a 1-1-2 record on that trip.
