Columbus Blue Jackets @ Philadelphia Flyers: Season 25 3/24/26

Period 1 tonight wouldn't be the best for our Columbus Blue Jackets. The Flyers would dominate in shots on goal for the period, 10-3. The Flyers would also get awarded a penalty shot about halfway through the opening period, but Jet Greaves did his job by stopping it, keeping this game 0-0. Unfortunately, a rebound would come off Jet Greaves and give Flyers Sean Couturier his eighth this season at 17:07. Luke Glendening would come away with his sixth assist this season on the primary, while Rasmus Ristolainen would add his eighth assist this season on the secondary. The opening period tonight would close with that 1-0 Flyers lead. But don't worry, 5th Line, the Blue Jackets would find their mojo in Period 2. 

00:44 into the middle period, Mathieu Olivier would tie this game at 1-1 with goal number fifteen of his season! It's great to see one of the team's main enforcers do as well in scoring as he did last season! Speaking of doing well this season, Zach Werenski picks up the primary assist on this goal, giving him fifty-six assists this season. Damon Severson also adds his twenty-third assist this season on the secondary. But, of course, Zach Werenski wouldn't stop with just an assist. He's been hot this season, and at 2:28, he'd add a goal to that assist less than two minutes ago! This would become the twenty-first goal of his season, and give his road team their first lead of the night! Damon Severson adds his second assist of the night, his twenty-fourth this season, on the primary. Mason Marchment continues his impact with the Blue Jackets, too, getting his nineteenth assist this season on the secondary. These would be the only two goals of the second period, allowing the Blue Jackets to take a 2-1 lead into the final regulation period. They'd also have a major comeback with shots on goal, taking control from the Flyers to the tune of 11-7. 

Period 3 would start out in an interesting but great way for our Blue Jackets. In my many seasons covering this team, I've rarely seen what happened happen. Mason Marchment and the Blue Jackets on the ice thought that he scored at 4:28 in Period 3 and started celebrating. However, the referee closest to the play signaled 'no goal', and play continued. Seconds later, the horn would sound for a good goal after Toronto reviewed the play and determined it to be a goal, as the Blue Jackets' players on the ice thought! So, that was Mason Marchment's seventeenth goal this season, and it would give his road team their biggest lead of the night, 3-1. Kirill Marchenko would add his thirty-fourth assist this season on the primary, while Adam Fantilli adds his thirty-second assist this season on the secondary! The Blue Jackets would hold onto this 3-1 lead until the Flyers elected to take their goalie, Dan Vladar, out of the home net for an extra man on the ice. Jamie Drysdale would make that decision pay off at 17:58 with his eighth goal of the season to make it 3-2 Blue Jackets. Trevor Zegras gets his thirty-fourth assist this season on the primary, while Christian Dvorak adds his twenty-eighth assist this season on the secondary. The Flyers would push for a tying goal and to skate away with at least a point for the rest of the period, but the Blue Jackets wouldn't allow another! We take the 2 points in regulation, winning on the road 3-2 against a talented Flyers team in a hungry division! The Flyers would win shots on goal this period, 9-5, but who cares? 

The Third Star of the Game went to Flyers Sean Couturier, who scored the first goal of the game. 

The Second Star of the Game went to our goaltender, Jet Greaves, who had an amazing night in the visitors' net. He had a .920 save percentage after stopping 23 of 25 Flyers' shots on his net.  

The First Star of the Game, Zach Werenski, was the only player tonight with a goal and an assist. He also managed to score both in less than two minutes in Period 2! YES. 

Bonsu Star: Kirill Marchenko. Yes, he had only an assist tonight, but it was his 100th in the NHL, and I'm so happy for him!

Now, the fun part! As if the regulation win wasn't enough, let's talk playoff rankings, shall we? The biggest update is that the Colorado Avalanche took care of business tonight, beating the Pittsburgh Penguins for us tonight, 6-2! With our 87 points compared to the Penguins' 86, we leap them to take SECOND PLACE in the Metropolitan Division! 

Bonuses: 

The Boston Bruins stay at 86 points and in the first Wildcard after a surprising 4-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at home.

The New York Islanders sit just outside the Playoff picture after a 4-3 loss at home to the Chicago Blackhawks.  

And, the Ottawa Senators helped us out, too, beating the Detroit Red Wings at home 3-2, keeping them outside the Playoff picture with 84 points. 

Again, this division is so close. It's been said many times and many ways, but that's because it's true: A few talented teams won't make it to the postseason this year in the East, and not for a lack of trying. The Blue Jackets cannot let up now, for that reason, and I say that for show because I doubt they will! Our next chance for points will be Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. as we travel to Montreal for a matchup with the red-hot Canadiens! This will not be an easy game. Case in point, they beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 tonight at home. But to be the best, we have to beat the best, and it's game-on in forty-five hours!

GO CBJ!     

  

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