Philadelphia takes on Columbus, looks to break 9-game slide

Updated Jan. 19, 2022 3:10 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Columbus Blue Jackets (17-18-1, fifth in the Metropolitan) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (13-18-8, seventh in the Metropolitan)

Philadelphia; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Philadelphia is looking to stop its nine-game losing streak with a win over Columbus.

The Flyers are 5-13-5 against Eastern Conference opponents. Philadelphia averages 9.1 penalty minutes per game, the ninth-most in the Eastern Conference. Zack MacEwen leads the team serving 41 total minutes.

The Blue Jackets are 4-7-0 against the rest of their division. Columbus is seventh in the Eastern Conference averaging 3.1 goals per game, led by Boone Jenner with 15.

The teams meet Thursday for the first time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Claude Giroux leads the Flyers with 31 points, scoring 12 goals and adding 19 assists. James van Riemsdyk has five goals over the last 10 games for Philadelphia.

Oliver Bjorkstrand has 26 total points while scoring 11 goals and totaling 15 assists for the Blue Jackets. Gustav Nyquist has five goals and five assists over the last 10 games for Columbus.

LAST 10 GAMES: Flyers: 1-6-3, averaging 2.1 goals, four assists, 3.7 penalties and 9.9 penalty minutes while giving up 3.4 goals per game with a .902 save percentage.

Blue Jackets: 3-7-0, averaging 2.9 goals, five assists, 3.5 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 4.1 goals per game with an .886 save percentage.

INJURIES: Flyers: Patrick Brown: out (knee), Kevin Hayes: out (upper body).

Blue Jackets: Adam Boqvist: out (covid-19), Daniil Tarasov: day to day (lower body), Cole Sillinger: out (covid-19), Vladislav Gavrikov: out (covid-19), Jakub Voracek: out (covid-19).

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