Columbus 4, Philadelphia 1
When: 7:30 PM ET, Saturday, December 5, 2015
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Referees:
Chris Lee, Dan O'Halloran
Linesmen:
Lonnie Cameron, Derek Nansen
Attendance:
18202
By The Sports Xchange
PHILADELPHIA -- Left winger Scott Hartnell and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky did damage to their former team on Saturday night, helping the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 at Wells Fargo Center.
Hartnell finished with a goal and two assists, and Bobrovsky was strong in net to help the Blue Jackets snap a three-game skid.
For Hartnell, who played seven seasons in Philadelphia, it was his first three-point game of 2015-16. Bobrovsky began his NHL career with the Flyers and made 27 saves in the win.
Left winger Nick Foligno also had three points with two goals and an assist.
Meanwhile, the Flyers' season-best four-game winning streak was put to rest. Philadelphia is 1-6-2 in its last nine matchups with Columbus.
Flyers goalie Steve Mason was also facing his former team. He allowed four or more goals for the fifth time in 17 games this season.
Bobrovsky (11-12-1) improved to 4-1-0 lifetime against Philadelphia.
The Blue Jackets set the tone by dominating the first period, outshooting the Flyers 13-4.
Columbus got things started 8:55 into the game when Foligno fired a snap shot from the circle past Mason.
It all began with Hartnell, who took a turnover along the boards and quickly found center Alexander Wennberg, who dished cross-ice to a wide-open Foligno for a clean look and 1-0 lead.
Not long after, the Flyers surrendered an ugly goal.
Trying to clear the puck, a bad wraparound attempt by Philadelphia found the stick of defenseman Jack Johnson, who flung an innocuous shot at the net that was inadvertently deflected in by Flyers center Scott Laughton.
After Columbus continued to control play early in the second period, Philadelphia defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere made a play to put the Flyers on the board 4:19 into the period.
Gostisbehere took the puck out of his zone and up center ice, finding center Brayden Schenn, who hit left winger Michael Raffl streaking to the net for a shot that cut the Flyers' deficit in half.
However, Foligno struck again 4 1/2 minutes later, beating Mason by blasting one top shelf stick side, assisted by Hartnell and Bobrovsky.
Hartnell then piled on with a goal, tipping in a pass from Wennberg for a power-play marker and commanding 4-1 lead at the second intermission. Foligno added another point by assisting the goal.
NOTES: Blue Jackets LW Scott Hartnell was back in the lineup after being a surprising healthy scratch Friday night. Coach John Tortorella said he was unhappy with Hartnell's performance of late. Hartnell, who entered the game with nine goals and seven assists, played seven seasons with the Flyers. ... Philadelphia on Saturday activated C R.J. Umberger and C Ryan White off injured reserve, and sent C Nick Cousins and RW Colin McDonald to American Hockey League affiliate Lehigh Valley. White (upper body injury) had missed nine straight games, while Umberger (lower body injury) was out 12 in a row. ... Blue Jackets D Fedor Tyutin returned to the lineup for the first time since Nov. 20 after missing six consecutive games because of a broken nose. ... Flyers C Sam Gagner (upper body) and D Mark Streit (groin) remained out, while D Radko Gudas served the second game of his three-game suspension. ... Blue Jackets D Kevin Connauton was a healthy scratch.
Top Game Performances
Columbus |
|
Philadelphia |
Nick Foligno 3 |
Points |
Michael Raffl 1 |
Nick Foligno 2 |
Goals |
Michael Raffl 1 |
Scott Hartnell 2 |
Assists |
Shayne Gostisbehere 1 |
Scott Hartnell 1 |
Power Play Goals |
N/A |
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
Sergei Bobrovsky .964 |
Save Percentage |
Steve Mason .882 |
Sergei Bobrovsky 27 |
Saves |
Steve Mason 30 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
Columbus
|
34 |
4 |
1-3 |
2-2 |
9 |
32 |
Philadelphia
|
28 |
1 |
0-2 |
2-3 |
11 |
30 |
Upcoming Games
-
Philadelphia will play their next game at home against NY Islanders. The Flyers have a W/L % of .455 after a win and .375 after a loss.
-
Columbus will play their next game at home against Los Angeles. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .455 after a win and .353 after a loss.