Wrap: Flyers Beat Blue Jackets, 4-1
The Philadelphia Flyers salvaged a home-and-home split with the Columbus Blue Jackets as the Flyers defeated Columbus, 4-1, at Nationwide Arena on Thursday evening. After a so-so first period, a Flyers second period outburst of three unanswered goals turned the tide of the game. The Flyers staged one of their best closeouts of the season in the third period.
On Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers were outstanding in the first 40 minutes but only mustered two goals and lost the game in the third period. In the rematch, neither team got much going in the first period. The Flyers trailed 1-0 at intermission. The Flyers controlled both the second and third periods and went on to enjoy a solid win in pretty much every aspect of the game except their continued power play woes. A big part of the turnaround was strong neutral zone play and good defensive sticks in their own zone.
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Eric Robinson (9th goal of the season) struck for a shorthanded goal to give the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead at 15:06 of the first period. Former Blue Jackets defenseman Kevin Connauton (1st) tied the game at 8:00 of the second period. At 13:26 of the second period, Owen Tippett (8th of the season, 2nd as a Flyer) put the Flyers ahead 2-1. Rookie Noah Cates (2nd) added to the lead with a follow up of an Ivan Provorov shot. Travis Konecny (13th) added some extra insurance at 16:55 of the third period.
On top of playing a strong two-way game, Travis Sanheim collected a pair of assists in this game. Morgan Frost won six of eight faceoffs, including a clean faceoff win and subsequent pass to Konecny to earn a primary assist on the final Flyers goal. Frost also blocked two Columbus shot attempts. Kevin Hayes, who has posted 17 points in his 17 games since returning to the lineup, assisted on Tippett's goal and generated four shots on goal.
Martin Jones turned in a steady performance in stopping 26 of 27 shots. Elvis Merzlikins, who was magnificent in Tuesday's game, looked human in this one. He finished with 27 saves on 31 shots.
The Flyers went 0-for-4 on the power play and allowed the Robinson shorthanded goal in the first period. The Blue Jackets went 0-for-2.
Thursday's game marked Cam Atkinson's first game back in Columbus since the longtime Blue Jackets fan favorite was traded to the Flyers last summer. Atkinson, who spent a decade with the Blue Jackets, received a standing ovation from the Nationwide Arena crowd. He did not record a point in the game but had four shots on goal on seven attempts.
The Flyers have a complete off-day on Friday. On Saturday, they will host the Anaheim Ducks on
Lou Nolan Night. After the ceremonies to honor Nolan for his 55 years of continual service to the Flyers organization and his 50 years as the team's public address announcer at the Spectrum and Wells Fargo Center, opening faceoff will be at 7:46 p.m. EDT.
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Phantoms Update
Last night in the American Hockey League, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms' flickering playoff hopes got a slight boost when the Charlotte Checkers defeated the Hartford Wolf Pack in regulation.
The loss dropped Hartford (29-27-6, .516 points percentage) into sixth place in the Atlantic Division. The Phantoms (25-28-11, .477 points percentage) still need to pass both the Bridgeport Islanders (27-27-11, .500 points percentage) and Wolf Pack in the standings by points percentage to eke out of final playoff spot. Hartford has been scuffling lately, with just two wins in their last 10 games.
On Friday night, the Phantoms will host the Hershey Bears (31-26-9) at the PPL Center. Game time is 7:05 p.m. EDT. The game will be streamed live on AHL-TV (subscription required).
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Frozen Four Update
The University of Denver Pioneers have advanced to the NCAA championship game after registering an upset 3-2 overtime win against Michigan on Thursday evening. Flyers prospect and Hobey Baker Award finalist Bobby Brink set up teammate Carter Savoie for the winning goal with 5:07 remaining in the sudden-death overtime period.
Denver will face Minnesota State in the championship game on Saturday night (8 p.m. EDT). On Thursday, Minnesota State downed the University of Minnesota by a 5-1 count. Flyers draftee Bryce Brodzinski worked a 2-on-1 near the net with Matthew Knies for the lone goal of the first period and the only tally Minnesota would register in the game.
On Friday evening, Brink will learn if he won the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the player deemed the best player in NCAA Division 1 hockey. The 20-year-old is up against tough competition in Minnesota junior forward Ben Meyers and Minnesota State senior goalie Dryden McKay. Brink led all collegiate players in the nation this season with 56 points, 42 assists, and a 1.44 points-per-game average.
The 23-year-old Meyers is expected to turn professional now that his team has been eliminated in the championship semifinals. The free agent has drawn interest from multiple NHL teams including the Flyers. With the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and NHLPA setting the financial limits of entry-level contracts and it being standard practice nowadays for teams to immediately burn the first year of an entry-level deal by having a new collegiate signee make his NHL debut, Meyers' decision will come down to a personal choice of where he sees the best NHL opportunity beyond this season. He is considered a solid top-9 prospect for an NHL depth chart.
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Meet Flyers Alumni: April 9, 2022 in Cherry Hill
On Saturday morning, members of the Flyers Alumni Association will be doing a registration-driving event for the Walk, Run, Stroll fundraiser at Washington Crossing Historic Park on April 23. Tomorrow morning, from 11 a.m. EDT to 1 p.m., Hockey Hall of Famer Bill Barber along with Brad Marsh, Joe Watson, Bob Kelly and Terry Carkner will be at the New Balance store in Cherry Hill, New Jersey (1990 Marlton Pike East).
The Flyers Alumni on hand will be doing a meet-and-greet and "Breakfast with the Alumni", and will be happy to sign autographs, pose for photo opportunities with fans and answer questions about the Walk, Run and Stroll. All proceeds from the Walk, Run and Stroll benefit the Flyers Warriors hockey program and the YMCA of Bucks County in Doylestown's Veterans Wellness Initiative (VWI).
Additionally, some family-friendly activities have been added to the Walk, Run and Stroll festivities on the 23rd including historically accurate Revolutionary War demonstrations by the Marbleheaders.
If you can't make it to tomorrow's in-person registration event in Cherry Hill, you can register for the Walk, Run, Stroll event (1k, 5k, and 10k courses) via the event's
official website.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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