After three straight disappointing losses, one in overtime, the Flyers were determined not to make it four.
When the Columbus Blue Jackets scored a power-play goal at 16:56 of the second period of Tuesday night’s game at Nationwide Arena to cut into the Flyers’ 3-0 lead, it was clearly an uh-oh moment.
But not to worry. Just over two minutes later, Joel Farabee threaded a two-zone pass to Travis Konecny for a break-in goal with one minute to play in the period, restoring the three-goal margin.
The Flyers went on to a 5-3 win and kept themselves from falling behind Columbus and into the Metropolitan Division basement. Philadelphia went back over .500 at 13-12-4.
Konecny finished the night with a pair of goals, including one on the power play at 6:11 of the second period.
The Flyers wasted little time taking control from the outset. They knew the Blue Jackets were just home after a long road trip.
Coach John Tortorella expressed appreciation for his team’s bounce-back effort.
“I thought we played pretty good at the beginning of the game,” the coach said in a televised interview. “I thought we played straight ahead, as fast as possible. They came off a long road trip, I thought we played them at a good time.
“I felt it was an important game for us to get back to playing with energy. And we find a way to score some goals.
Noah Cates and Owen Tippett scored to give the Flyers a 2-0 lead through one period.
Cates used a timely shot from Tyson Foerster to get on the board at 4:37. Foerster skated to the lower edge of the left circle and sent a shot off the crossbar. The puck hopped high in the air and when it fell back to the ice, Cates was right on the doorstep away from goaltender Elvis Merzlikens to tap it in.
“We talked about our starts,” Cates said in a first intermission interview. “Getting pucks in and being all over them. We were good in the neutral zone. Getting a two-lead after not playing our best hockey is nice after losing our last couple.”
Tippett scored his fifth goal in the last five games at 10:56. Defenseman Jamie Drysdale and center Morgan Frost worked together to get the puck to Tippett at the top of the right circle. Tippett’s shot to the far side eluded Merzlikins.
At the morning skate, Tortorella said Tippett’s play recently without the puck has been a positive.
“I think the key thing with ‘Tip’ is awareness away from the puck,” the coach said. “There have been some struggles through the first quarter of the year understanding situations, where he should be defensively.
“I think he’s improving there. He’s trying to concentrate on that. I think when he has the puck he’s keeping it more. He’s won more battles. And the puck has found him the last few games.”
Tippett’s goal was his ninth. After a slow start, he’s starting to find the range.
“Hope it continues because there’s been some inconsistencies,” Tortorella said “But he’s beginning to find the net and I think that will help his overall game.”
Goalie Sam Ersson didn’t have much work in the first period, facing only four shots. He was steady the rest of the way.
In the third, Frost scored to make it 5-1. Columbus picked up two more goals, including one with 36.9 seconds remaining but time ran out on the late rally.
The Tippett-Frost-Michkov line continues to tear it up since it was put together a couple weeks ago.
“We’re starting to develop some chemistry,” Frost pointed out. “We’re all offensive players. I think we’re all doing a good job on the other side of the puck. I’m having a blast playing with those guys. Hope we can keep it going together.”
>Foerster trending upward
In addition to his important assist in the first period, Foerster put together another positive overall performance against the Jackets.
Overall, Foerster has made some valuable contributions as a penalty killer.
“He’s been on the penalty kill right from the get-go as far as that third pair,” Tortorella said. “We’re trying to develop him and ‘Tip’ (Tippett).
“I hope it helps his (Foerster’s) game defensively. He’s been up and down as a penalty killer and five on five. Still waiting to see more consistency with him.”
>Short shots
The Flyers return home Thursday to take on the Detroit Red Wings. . .Matvei Michkov picked up assists on Konecny’s first goal and also the goal by Frost at 1:55 of the third. Michkov upped his season point total to 27. The young Russian has had multiple points in nine games.
Philadelphia defenseman Nick Seeler went after the Blue Jackets’ Mathieu Olivier after the Columbus player decked the Flyers’ Emil Andrae, a hit which left the player momentarily on the ice a bit dazed. “I thought the best play of the game was watching 10, 12 (Philadelphia) guys go over to the penalty box and tap ‘Seels,’+” Tortorella said. “I think that stuff is so important for a team. I thought that was the best play of the game.”
