Hey, look! It’s nearly Christmas, and the Blue Jackets are playing a meaningful game against an opponent who is also in pursuit of a wild card spot.
There was a beautiful ceremony before the puck drop in honor of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who grew up not far from Philly.
1st Period
The Flyers started the game with an extended possession in the offensive zone. Fortunately, that possession ended with an interference penalty and a Blue Jackets power play.
Philly’s aggressive penalty kill was able to kill off the penalty successfully. I must say, I do miss the Torts style of killing penalties.
The best chance for the Jackets early on came from the Voronkov-Monahan-Marchenko line. That line is developing chemistry and looks dangerous.
Aston-Reese went off for holding to give Philly their first man advantage. The Jackets were able to kill it off, and spur some boos from the crowd.
Elvis picked up where he left off on a 2-on-1. He made a sprawling save to keep the game at goose eggs.
Known elite goal-scorer Olivier potted his ninth goal of the year to put the Jackets up 1-0. He took a shot, and KJ took the rebound behind the net. He found Olivier in the slot with a nice pass, and he didn’t miss the partially open net. It was a great pass by KJ and great offensive awareness by Olivier, who had the sense to skate to the lot after his initial shot.
CBJ Goal 1-0: Olivier (K. Johnson, Sillinger) 15:47
KJ and Fantilli were probably the best Columbus players in the first period, which is something that you love to see. Fantilli didn’t get on the scoreboard, but he was very noticeable on both ends. You can tell he’s working hard to get better at the little things, both with and without the puck.
2nd Period
Less than two minutes into the second, Aston-Reese got booked for hooking. Unlike his first penalty, this one was not a questionable call.
Ersson was forced to make two saves on a short-handed Sillinger. The penalty kill did a great job of disrupting the Philly power play. Michkov, an already dangerous power play asset, wasn’t given much time and space.
Pyyhtia tallied his second goal in recent memory when Ersson made an unforced error. Malatesta did a great job of getting the puck through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone. Ersson came out to play the puck behind the net, but he failed to see how close Kuraly was. Kuraly was able to steal the puck from Ersson and sweep it to Pyyhtia for an easy goal.
Malatesta wasn’t credited with an assist because Ersson played the puck, but his simple yet important play in the neutral zone certainly didn’t go unnoticed.
CBJ Goal 2-0: Pyyhtia (Kuraly) 7:05
The Flyers appeared to score their first goal off a flukey play. The puck was exiting the zone, and Lycksell remained deep in the zone for a pass. Fortunately, a Columbus challenge overturned the goal for offsides as the puck did, in fact, cross the line.
There was a goalie show with less than a minute left in the period. Ersson robbed KJ on a partial breakaway before Elvis robbed Michkov on the other end as time expired. Both were enormous saves for both teams.
3rd Period
There was terrible news for the Jackets early in the period. Werenski went into the boards knee first and went straight to the locker room.
Then Kuraly went off for delay of game to give the Flyers a chance to get within one. Fortunately, the penalty kill came through. Christiansen got major kudos for taking a slapper right off the leg.
Miraculously, Werenski was back on the ice after the first commercial break. Phew.
The Flyers got one back when Tippett completely faked out Elvis and both defensemen by streaking across the crease and then passing backward to Frost. Frost had a wide-open net.
PHI Goal 2-1: Frost (Tippett) 6:53
When it rains, it pours. A bouncing pinball play left the puck in front of an open net. Cates was able to sweep it home.
PHI Goal 2-2: Cates (unassisted) 8:48
However, the Jackets immediately struck back with their own greasy net front play. An elite stick lift by Monahan left the puck right on Voronkov’s stick at point-blank range. A pass over to Marchenko was the dagger.
CBJ Goal 3-2: Marchenko (Voronkov, Provorov) 10:01
The high-flying third period continued when Frost beat Elvis glove side.
PHI Goal 3-3: Frost (Tippett, Konecny) 11:51
Olivier and Hathaway both went off for incidental roughing minors, making the game 4-on-4. The Flyers immediately got a 2-on-0 breakaway, but Elvis was able to make a glove save to keep the game even.
Aston-Reese had a prime chance to take the lead when Werenski found him alone in front of the net. Unfortunately, he was unable to tuck the puck past Ersson’s left pad.
My man Jake Christiansen finally scored his first goal of the season to retake the lead. Voronkov made a great play to help win the faceoff and send the puck back to Christiansen. Jake immediately pulled the trigger and found the net through traffic.
CBJ Goal 4-3: Christiansen (Voronkov, Monahan) 15:49
A hilarious moment came when Sanheim attempted to defend his goalie after a whistle. He immediately challenged Voronkov, but when he saw who it was, he immediately started backing down while Voronkov jawed in his face. I certainly don’t blame Sanheim for not wanting a piece of Voronkov.
The Flyers tied the game off a ridiculous goal. Konecny fired a shot from the point, and a deflection from Foerster right in front of Elvis beat him top corner.
PHI Goal 4-4: Foerster (Konecny, Tippett) 18:16
Voronkov had a chance to win the game with 20 seconds left, but Ersson was able to stop the breakaway shot.
On to overtime.
OT
What a time to be alive. Olivier was out during OT, and I didn’t hate it.
Flyers win it in OT. Tippett capped off his four-point night with a goal.
PHI Goal: 5-4: Tippett (Cates) 3:30
Final Thoughts
Listen, I like Sillinger, but OT has not been kind to him. This was the third OT in a row where Silinger was on the ice for a goal against. He was within range to catch up with the ending 2-on-1, but his lack of high-end speed meant he wasn’t able to get back defensively.
It was an unfortunate game for Elvis. I thought he played well despite what the scoresheet will say. In order to be a more consistent goalie, he needs to be able to brush off games like this.
Jack Johnson and Jordan Harris = bad. They didn’t give up any goals, but all offensive hockey immediately came to a halt whenever they were on the ice. Often, they were getting hemmed into their own zone.
This team desperately needs Jenner and Chinakhov back. Luckily, they are still in the wild card hunt. I still don’t think they’ll make the playoffs, but they are going to need a healthy team down the stretch in order to make a run. There isn’t enough NHL talent at the bottom of the roster.
How long can you keep Mateychuk in Cleveland if you are in the playoff hunt and need help on the left side of the defense? I can make the argument both ways, but isn’t the big club more important?
Up Next
Patrik Laine and the Canadiens will visit Nationwide Arena on Monday night. The puck will drop at 7:00 PM ET.