Travis Konecny scored twice while Morgan Frost had a goal and an assist as the Philadelphia Flyers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over the host Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.
Owen Tippett scored for the fifth time in five games, Noah Cates also found the back of the net and star rookie Matvei Michkov added two assists for the Flyers, who earned their first victory in four December meetings. Konecny, who topped the 30-goal mark in each of the past two seasons, increased his team-leading goal total to 15 with his fifth multi-goal game of the campaign.
Zach Werenski scored his ninth goal of the season while Sean Monahan and Kent Johnson added late markers for the Blue Jackets, who managed just 18 shots on goal while losing for the fourth time in five games. The result also ended Columbus’ 4-0-1 run at home.
Philadelphia opened the scoring 4:37 into the contest. Amid a net-front scrum and on a rebound of Tyson Foerster’s shot, Cates got to the puck and was credited with a goal.
The Flyers made it 2-0 with 9:04 to play in the opening period. On the pursuit, Frost got the puck to Jamie Drysdale, who dropped it off for Tippett to send over the right shoulder of Columbus goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (19 saves).
Philadelphia added on at the 6:11 mark of the second period. On a power play, a wide-open Konecny delivered from the circle while teammate Emil Andrae screened Merzlikins.
Columbus finally got on the board with 3:04 remaining in the second via a power-play goal of its own. Werenski’s snap shot from the point eventually fluttered past Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson (15 stops).
However, the Flyers regained their three-goal edge with a minute left in the middle frame. Joel Farabee found an open Konecny for a partial breakaway that ended with the puck sliding under Merzlikins’ left pad.
Philadelphia made it 5-1 just 1:55 into the third. Frost proved to be in the right spot at the right time to beat Merzlikins to complete his two-point night.
–Field Level Media
