Defensemen Damon Severson and Zach Werenski both scored twice as the Columbus Blue Jackets delivered a blow to Philadelphia’s playoff chances, topping the visiting Flyers 6-2 on Saturday night.
Defensemen Erik Gudbranson and Nick Blankenburg also scored and Werenski added an assist for Columbus (26-39-12, 64 points), which won for just the fourth time in 14 games (4-8-2). Johnny Gaudreau had a pair of assists.
Jet Greaves made 37 saves for his second victory of the season.
Olle Lycksell and Adam Ginning responded for the Flyers (36-31-11, 83 points). Philadelphia is winless in seven straight (0-5-2) and fell outside of the playoff picture with Saturday’s loss.
Samuel Ersson stopped 27 shots.
Werenski gave the Jackets a 5-1 lead midway through the third, sailing a shot through traffic for his eighth goal of the season on a power play.
The Blue Jackets blue-liner added his second of the night 57 seconds later, tapping in the rebound off Carson Meyer’s shot.
Ginning pulled the Flyers to within four, beating a screened Greaves at 15:08 of the third for his first NHL goal.
The Jackets outscored the Flyers 2-1 in the middle period and held a 4-1 lead heading to the third.
Severson one-timed a Gaudreau pass short-side past Ersson for his second of the night and ninth of the season at 8:23 of the middle frame.
Lycksell got the Flyers on the board with 5:28 remaining in the second, tipping in a Garnet Hathaway pass for his first career NHL goal.
The Blue Jackets responded 48 seconds later as Blankenburg’s shot beat a screened Ersson glove-side for his first of the season.
Columbus outshot Philadelphia 14-10 and led 2-0 after 20 minutes.
Gudbranson opened the scoring at 12:08 of the first period, getting his point shot through a screened Ersson for his sixth of the season.
Columbus doubled its lead with 1:06 remaining in the period when Severson one-timed a Werenski pass past Ersson for his eighth of the season.
With the victory, the Blue Jackets earned a split of the four-game season series against the Flyers.
–Field Level Media
