Flyers keep coming back, edge Blue Jackets in OT

Field Level Media|published: Sat 21st December, 22:17 2024

NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets at Philadelphia Flyers

Dec 21, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) celebrates his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Owen Tippett scored in overtime as the host Philadelphia Flyers staged a series of third-period rallies before nipping the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 on Saturday.

Morgan Frost scored twice and Tippett added three assists for Philadelphia, which tallied four goals in the third period, including Tyson Foerster's equalizer with less than two minutes to go.

Tippett then got behind the defense in overtime, beating Elvis Merzlikins with a smooth move to his backhand.

Kirill Marchenko, Jake Christiansen, Mikael Pyyhtia and Mathieu Olivier scored for Columbus, which has lost nine of its last 11 games (2-6-3). Philadelphia, meanwhile, has won only three times in its last nine contests 3-5-1), although two of those victories have come against the Blue Jackets.

With his team trailing 2-0 with just over 13 minutes left, Tippett drew multiple defenders -- and Merzlikins -- and made a stellar no-look pass to Frost, who scored into a wide-open net.

Noah Cates tied it less than two minutes later, as he rammed home a loose puck in front of the net. However, Marchenko scored on a scramble in front of Samuel Ersson just over a minute later, putting Columbus back in front 3-2.

Philadelphia kept fighting and tied it less than two minutes later, as Frost put a perfect shot into the top-right corner of the net.

The action didn't slow down, as both teams had a chance to regain the lead. First, Merzlikins made a flashy glove save on Cam York's breakaway. Then Zachary Aston-Reese had a chance to put the visitors ahead, but Ersson got his pad on the puck at the last second.

Columbus eventually regained the lead with 4:11 left when Christiansen's seemingly harmless flip toward the net beat Ersson for the defenseman's second career goal and first since March 1, 2022.

Yet, Philadelphia tied it yet again on Foerster's perfect deflection with 1:44 to play.

The Blue Jackets' first two goals -- a first-period tally by Olivier and a second-period goal by Pyyhtia -- both came off misplays by Ersson.

--Field Level Media

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