Game Preview: Blue Jackets Host Flyers In Nationwide Arena's Final Weekend Game Of The Season

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

36-30-11(83 pts; .539%) t-3rd, Metro Division ROSTER SCHEDULE

7:00 P.M. – SATURDAY, APRIL 6 NATIONWIDE ARENA COLUMBUS, OH

TELEVISION: Bally Sports Ohio ESPN+ Power Play (Out of Market

The Columbus Blue Jackets play weekend hockey at Nationwide Arena for the final time this season on Saturday night when the Philadelphia Flyers come to town.

It's the final game of a four-game homestand for the Blue Jackets, who won the first two games but lost Thursday night to the New York Islanders. Tied in the third period, a win would have given Columbus their first three-game win streak since the 2021-22 season.

Columbus lost more than just the game Thursday night; Daniil Tarasov exited the game with an upper-body injury in the first period, and Jake Bean left in the third period with a broken hand that will keep him out for the final two weeks of the season. 

Here's what else to know when the Flyers and Blue Jackets go against each other for the final time in the 2023-24 season: 

TALKING POINTS: PHI

• Mathematically, this is not a must-win game for the Flyers. But in reality, it's an absolute must for Torts' team. The Flyers have lost a season-high six games at the worst possible time, sending them from safely in the postseason as the third-place team in the Metro into a tie for that spot with the New York Islanders, who have one fewer game played and thus, the better point percentage. That puts the Flyers into the final wildcard spot by a single point over both the Washington Capitals and the Detroit Red Wings. Just one point them are the surging Pittsburgh Penguins, who were on life support for a postseason spot just two weeks ago. All of these teams, including the Islanders, have one fewer game played than the Flyers, giving Philadelphia one fewer chance at crucial points. They've gotta have this game.
   
• All-Star forward Travis Konecny is the leader of the Philly offense, ranking first on the team in goals (31), assists (34), and points (65). But watch out for Owen Tippett, who has goals in three of his last five games. The 24-year-old winger is second on the team in goals (28).
   
• The Flyers will be without veteran Sean Couturier for this game and the remaining two games on Philadelphia's road trip as a result of a shoulder injury. 

TALKING POINTS: CBJ

• With Elvis Merzlikins out of the lineup, the injury to Tarasov is another chance for Jet Greaves to show his stuff at the NHL level. The 23-year-old stopped 24 of 25 shots in two periods of relief of Tarasov on Thursday and has looked more than serviceable in his limited NHL experience.
   
• This is the final weekend game for the Blue Jackets, but they aren't quite done on home ice after Saturday. The team will hit the road for four straight following Saturday's game before returning home for one final game on April 16th against the Carolina Hurricanes.
   
• Defenseman Nick Blankenburg has been brought in on emergency recall from Cleveland, as has goaltender Malcolm Subban. Lineups are projected, and of course, super subject to changes: