It was a brutal end to an exhilarating third period.
Owen Tippett scored the overtime game-winner and had three assists to help the Philadelphia Flyers overcome a 2-0 third-period deficit and beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 from Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night.
The Flyers honored the Gaudreau brothers, Johnny and Matthew, pregame.
Elvis Encore Goes Awry
Head coach Dean Evason kept the lineup the same following Thursday's 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils which meant going back to Elvis Merzlikins in net.
Thursday's victory featured Merzlikins' best game of the season and one of the best of his career as he made a season-high 40 saves.
Through two shutout periods on Saturday against Philadelphia, Columbus was on its way to securing a rare road win.
Instead, a combined six third-period goals sent this one to overtime:
(6:53 — PHI Goal):
- Morgan Frost (5) scored to make it 2-1 Jackets, assisted by Tippett (9) and Travis Konecny (22). Tippett is on a three-game point streak (two goals, four assists).
(8:48 — PHI Goal):
- Noah Cates (5) tied the game 2-2, assisted by Tyson Foerster (7) and Cam York (3). Cates is on a three-game point streak (three goals, one assists). Foerster is on a three-game point streak (three goals, three assists).
(10:01 — CBJ Goal):
- Kirill Marchenko (12) gives Columbus its second lead, assisted by Dmitri Voronkov (8) and Ivan Provorov (10). Voronkov is on a four-game point streak (one goal, four assists).
(11:51 — PHI Goal):
- Morgan Frost (6) tied the game 3-3, assisted by Tippett (10) and Travis Konecny (23).
(15:49 — CBJ Goal):
- Jake Christiansen (1) scored the go-ahead goal, giving Columbus its third lead, assisted by Voronkov (9) and Ivan Provorov (10).
(11:51 — PHI Goal):
- Foerster (9) tied the game 4-4, assisted by Konecny (24) and Tippett (11).
In overtime, the Flyers broke the alternating goal-scoring pattern.
(3:30 — PHI Goal):
- Tippett (11) scored the game-winner, assisted by Cates (6).
Merzlikins made 25 saves. In all situations, Philadelphia outshot Columbus 70-45 and held the advantage in expected goals 2.7-1.98 per Natural Stat Trick. Samuel Ersson made 21 saves on 25 shots.
#CBJ coach Dean Evason on the Zach Werenski leg injury. Left and came back in the third: "Hoping he doesn't seize up now because he was at the end in overtime. Obviously he's a massive part of our hockey club."
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 22, 2024
Depth Scoring
The Blue Jackets got their goals from a variety of guys.
Mathieu Olivier continues to deliver offensively as he scores his ongoing career-best ninth goal at 15:47 of the first period to start the scoring.
Mathieu Olivier - Columbus Blue Jackets (9) pic.twitter.com/H7AkLE6zdk
— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) December 22, 2024
Kent Johnson added his 10th assist. Olivier is one point from matching his career-best 15 points.
Olivier out for 3-on-3 OT. This is something.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) December 22, 2024
#CBJ Mathieu Olivier has as many goals (nine) as Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Jack Eichel, Sebastian Aho, Filip Forsberg ... just as you expected.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) December 22, 2024
Mikael Pyyhtia scored his third goal, making it 2-0 at 7:05 of the second period. Sean Kuraly added his sixth assist.
Nice and easy for Mikael Pyyhtia!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/YOM4JY0MUP
— FanDuel Sports Network Columbus (@FanDuelSN_CBUS) December 22, 2024
All three goals have come this season and he has two in the last three games.
Kirill Marchenko stayed hot with his team-leading 12th goal at 10:01 of the third period. He's on a five-game point streak (two goals, five assists) and has 34 points in 34 games.
Kirill Marchenko - Columbus Blue Jackets (12) pic.twitter.com/WgzFu5YEjZ
— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) December 22, 2024
Christiansen's goal at 15:49 was his first this season and the second of his career.
First goal of the season for Jake Christiansen!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/qx2fkw5QTB
— FanDuel Sports Network Columbus (@FanDuelSN_CBUS) December 22, 2024
Loser Point Keeping Them In It
Columbus came into the game with an opportunity to leapfrog Philadelphia and tie the New York Rangers for fifth with 33 points in the Metropolitan Division.
Instead, the Flyers take over sole possession of fifth place and Columbus last place in the division. However, only three points separates Columbus from the Pittsburgh Penguins for fourth.
Columbus is 1-6 in overtime this season and has lost four straight overtime games but that extra point has kept them close to the competition. They're six points out of a wild card spot.
#CBJ Dean Evason after the OT loss: "I'm not gonna (feel) too bad. It looks obviously bad with (losing) a 2-0 lead, but we just talked about it as a group. We competed our asses off. I know it's hard to say in a game like this, but we'll take the positives out of this."
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 22, 2024
One More Before Break
The Blue Jackets will entertain Patrik Laine and the Montreal Canadiens from Nationwide Arena on Monday, Dec. 23 before the NHL goes on their Christmas break. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET.
