Seth Jones scores in OT to lift Blue Jackets over Flyers 4-3
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cam Atkinson fed a wide-open Jones in the slot moments into overtime, and Jones beat goalie Anthony Stolarz over his left shoulder to help Columbus recover from a frustrating 9-6 loss to Calgary on Tuesday night.
Brandon Dubinsky and Boone Jenner also scored for the Blue Jackets, and Atkinson extended his career-best points streak to 12 consecutive games.
Two-time Vezina Award winner Sergei Bobrovsky allowed eight goals on 26 shots in the loss to the Flames but rebounded with 23 saves to improve to 12-3-1 against his former team.
Travis Sanheim scored a pair of third-period goals, and Claude Giroux had a goal and an assist for the Flyers, who were playing for the first time under new general manager Chuck Fletcher. Fletcher was hired Monday to replace Ron Hextall. It also was the debut on the bench for longtime NHL coach Rick Wilson, who was tabbed as an assistant to replace fired Gord Murphy.
Philadelphia, with 24 points, entered 15th of 16 teams in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers have lost seven of nine.
The game looked in hand when Jenner fired a quick wrist shot from the right circle past Stolarz's glove 5:15 into the third to put Columbus up 3-1.
Sanheim pulled Philadelphia within 3-2 with 7:36 left in regulation when he used a strong move to beat Bobrovsky with a backhand shot from right in front of the crease after a nifty feed from Giroux. He tied it with 5:31 left in regulation with a wrist shot that went over Bobrovsky's right shoulder after a perfect cross-ice pass from Jakub Voracek.
Sanheim entered without a goal in 25 games this season and had just two in 74 career contests coming into Thursday.
Philadelphia's problems were more of the same in the first period when the Blue Jackets outshot the hosts 12-5 while taking a 2-1 lead. Stolarz, the fifth Flyers goalie used this season due to injury and ineffectiveness, gave up a soft goal that allowed the Blue Jackets to tie the score at 1.
NOTES: Atkinson has 20 points (13 goals, seven assists) during his streak. It is the second-longest points streak in club history and one game within Ryan Johansen for the Columbus record, set during the 2014-15 season. ... The Blue Jackets are 2-0 against the Flyers this season. The teams will meet twice more, Dec. 22 in Philadelphia and Feb. 28 at Columbus.
UP NEXT
Blue Jackets: Being six-game homestand Saturday against Washington.
Flyers: Start five-game trip Saturday in Buffalo.