Tuesday, January 14, 2024 – 7:00 PM
Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio
TV: FDSNOH – Radio: 97.1 FM
Opponent’s Blog: Broad Street Hockey
Philadelphia Flyers (18-20-5, 41 points, 8th Metropolitan, 15th East)
at
Columbus Blue Jackets (20-17-6, 46 points, 4th Metropolitan, 8th East)
The Jackets are officially on a winning streak, earning victories in their last four games for the first time since February of 2022. Four games is apparently tied for the 17th longest winstreak in franchise history, which is a little bit sad. A win tonight would enter a tie for the ninth longest, the first five-game streak since December of 2019. Also a little sad. But it’s winning, so it’s all fun!
Speaking of fun, the Jackets and Flyers have let in the 31st and 30th most goals per game this season, so I’d recommend taking the over on this one.
Player to Watch
Kirill Marchenko
Zach Werenski, Sean Monahan (before he was injured), and Adam Fantilli (since Monahan was injured) have rightfully earned their roses this season, but somehow Kirill Marchenko has flown under the radar in Jackets circles this year. He has 18 goals and 47 points through 43 games this year, including 14 multi-point games. Recently, he’s also on a personal four-game point streak (2-3-5), and has the sixth most points in the NHL since December 6th (8-15-23 in 18 games). He’s also been driving play in a way that doesn’t get reflected in the stat sheet, especially since Monahan was injured. His success will be key to the Jackets’ success tonight and for the rest of the season.
Jackets Notes
The Jackets are 0-1-1 vs the Flyers so far this season, so hopefully they can get their first win over their division foe. … Columbus signed veteran winger and noted graphic design degree holder Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year, $775K extension for next season Monday morning. … Noise has been picking up around the Blue Jackets’ Stadium Series uniforms: The current rumor is that they’ll be released in the week after Ohio State plays in the College Football Playoff National Championship on January 20th. … Brothers Cole and Owen Sillinger scored the respective game winners for the Blue Jackets and their AHL affiliate Cleveland Monsters, which has to be first time in a while that’s happened. … Daniil Tarasov returned from his conditioning stint with the Monsters with mixed results: He let in five goals on 30 shots on Friday, before making 34 saves in a 2-1 OTW for Cleveland Saturday.
The Other Bench
The Flyers are on the second leg of a back-to-back, having played the Florida Panthers last night in Philly. I’m writing this before then, so it was definitely a game a team won. … Between their last game vs the Jackets on December 21 and their game yesterday, the Flyers have gone 3-5-1 in nine games. … Travis Konecny has has a breakout season this year, including four points in Philadelphia’s 6-0 win over the Ducks on Saturday, and a visually pleasing 20-30-50 statline through 43 games.
Season Series
12/10/2024 – PHI 5 at CBJ 3
12/21/2024 – CBJ 4 at PHI 5 (OT)
1/14/2025 – PHI at CBJ
4/15/2025 – CBJ at PHI
Stats
Philadelphia | Columbus | |
3.00 (15) | GPG | 3.40 (5) |
3.47 (30) | GAPG | 3.51 (31) |
15.8% (28) | PP% | 24.1% (9) |
78.8% (17) | PK% | 73.4% (27) |
48.5% (24) | 5v5 Shot Attempt % | 48.8% (22) |
50.5% (13) | 5v5 Unblocked Shot Attempt % | 49.4% (18) |
9.2% (9) | 5v5 Shooting % | 10.0% (5) |
.885 (32) | 5v5 Save % | .902 (25) |
Travis Konecny, 20 | G Leader | Kirill Marchenko, 18 |
Travis Konecny, 30 | A Leader | Zach Werenski, 35 |
Travis Konecny, 50 | P Leader | Zach Werenski, 48 |
Garnet Hathaway, 42 | PIM Leader | Matthieu Olivier, 81 |
9-9-4 | Home/Road | 14-5-3 |
4-5-1 | Last 10 | 7-2-1 |
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dmitri Voronkov | Adam Fantilli | Kirill Marchenko |
James van Riemsdyk | Cole Sillinger | Kent Johnson |
Zach Aston-Reese | Luca Del Bel Belluz | Mattieu Olivier |
Mikael Pyyhtia | Sean Kuraly | Kevin Labanc |
Zach Werenski | Dante Fabbro |
Denton Mateychuk | Ivan Provorov |
Jake Christiansen | Damon Severson |
Elvis Merzlikins |
Daniil Tarasov |
Philadelphia Flyers
Owen Tippett | Morgan Frost | Travis Konecny |
Olle Lycksell | Sean Couturier | Matvei Michkov |
Tyson Foerster | Noah Cates | Bobby Brink |
Scott Laughton | Ryan Poehling | Garnet Hathaway |
Cam York | Travis Sanheim |
Egor Zamula | Rasmus Ristolainen |
Nick Seeler | Jamie Drysdale |
Ivan Fedotov |
Samuel Ersson |