Travis Konecny scored two goals, and Morgan Frost had a goal and an assist as the Philadelphia Flyers ended a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.
Owen Tippett scored for the fifth game in a row, Noah Cates also scored, and rookie Matvei Michkov added two assists for the Flyers, who won their first game in four December matchups. Konecny, who scored over 30 goals in each of the last two seasons, increased his team-leading goal total to 15 with his fifth multi-goal game of the season.
Zach Werenski scored his ninth goal of the season, while Sean Monahan and Kent Johnson added late goals for the Blue Jackets, who managed only 18 shots on goal and lost for the fourth time in five games. The loss also ended Columbus’ 4-0-1 home streak.
Philadelphia started the scoring 4:37 into the game. After a scramble in front of the net and a rebound off Tyson Foerster’s shot, Cates got to the puck and was credited with a goal.
The Flyers made it 2-0 with 9:04 left in the first period. Frost passed the puck to Jamie Drysdale, who then set up Tippett to score over the right shoulder of Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins (19 saves).
In the second period, Philadelphia added another goal at 6:11. On a power play, Konecny, left wide open, scored from the circle while Emil Andrae screened Merzlikins.
Columbus got on the board with 3:04 left in the second period, scoring on a power play. Werenski’s shot from the point found its way past Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson (15 saves).
However, the Flyers regained their three-goal lead with a minute left in the second period. Joel Farabee set up Konecny for a partial breakaway, and Konecny slid the puck under Merzlikins’ left pad.
Philadelphia made it 5-1 just 1:55 into the third period. Frost was in the right place at the right time to beat Merzlikins and finish his two-point night.
