Flyers’ skid continues with shootout loss to Columbus Blue Jackets

Dr. Jeykll, meet Mr. Hyde.

For the majority of Thursday’s game against the Blue Jackets, the Flyers looked like the team that has been in the playoff mix, has fans questioning whether the rebuild was already on the downslope, and put together a nine-game point streak in December.

But then Mr. Hyde crept, and they looked like the team that less than 48 hours earlier had been handed their third straight loss and fifth in the past six games.

In the end, the drop in play cost them, as they were handed a 3-2 shootout loss with Johnny Gaudreau scoring the winner.

» READ MORE: Travis Konecny named Flyers’ 2024 All-Star representative

It never should have gotten to overtime, though. The Flyers completely outplayed Columbus. The Flyers outshot and out-chanced the Blue Jackets in regulation, putting 40 shots on goal to Columbus’ 26 and a total of 70 shot attempts to the Blue Jackets’ 59. It was so lopsided, especially in the second period, that Natural Stat Trick had the Flyers Corsi For percentage at 69.7% when skating five-on-five.

“You knew the chances we were getting, especially the first 45 minutes of the game and not scoring, you just felt it was going to come down to that type of game,” coach John Tortorella said. “But no, we just keep on scratching and clawing and take the point.”

But, up 2-0 on goals by All-Star Travis Konecny with just over 15 minutes to go in regulation, the Flyers allowed the visitors to tie things up on goals by Damon Severson — who scored less than a minute after Konecny’s second — and Jake Bean, whose shot fluttered off a stick, per Sam Ersson. And, if not for the quick pads of Sam Ersson, the Blue Jackets probably would have won the game with 69 seconds left in regulation when Alexandre Texier’s shot through traffic was followed up by a Cole Sillinger rebound attempt.

“We need to play with the 2-0 lead longer, first of all,” Tortorella said. “That’s where I think you can grind a team. We gave up the first one too quickly. When they score the second, that’s where prior to that they had very few chances, but they piled them up after the second goal.”

Added Joel Farabee: “I don’t think we played necessarily bad in the third. I thought we tried to hold on instead of being aggressive. Teams are too good in this league, they’re going to get their chances. We have to stay aggressive in the third there and keep the pressure on them and not try and sit back and win the game.”

Konency was named the Flyers’ representative for the 2024 NHL All-Star Game and backed it up with a dominating two-goal performance.

His first of the night came shortly after he was named, notching his team-leading 19th of the season at 17 minutes and 12 seconds of the first period. Sean Couturier cut through the slot but was unable to get a shot off and the puck slid to newly-minted first-liner Farabee. The forward made a heads-up play, sending a cross-ice pass to Konecny, who was sitting behind the Blue Jackets defense at the edge of the crease for the redirect.

“He’s a pretty good player,” Farabee said. “He’s just got an unbelievable shot and he knows how to find those little areas. So, for me, I just try and use my legs, and if I have the puck I’m usually looking for him or Coots. I thought TK was our best player tonight.”

Konecny’s second of the night showcased a guy who is not afraid to score beautiful, but gritty, goals. Driving down the right side of the ice, he took a pass from Farabee, who had drawn the two Blue Jackets defenders to him. Konecny kept driving until he drove around Bean and crashed the net, scoring his 20th of the season when the puck slid off his stick and through the five-hole of Daniil Tarasov.

“No,” Konecny said when asked if he intended to score in the manner he did. “Sometimes that’s the way it works though when they’re not expecting it. I was trying take it around and I think he thought the same thing.”

» READ MORE: Travis Konecny named Flyers’ 2024 All-Star representative

Cam Atkinson recently told The Inquirer that Tortorella has been the most “honest, upfront” coach he’s had and will tell you “where you lie in the lineup and what you need to do to improve.” Where Atkinson lies right now is watching from the press box. Tortorella said postgame, when asked how difficult it was to take Atkinson out of the lineup, “It wasn’t.”

A healthy scratch for the first time this season, Atkinson has struggled to find his offensive punch after missing all of 2022-23 with a neck injury that required surgery. He has just eight goals and 18 points in 37 games.

It is not the first time Tortorella has sat the winger. The bench boss did so when the pair were together in Columbus back in December 2017. At the time, Atkinson had just nine points (six goals, three assists) in his first 25 games; he notched 18 goals and 37 points across his next 40.

» READ MORE: Flyers doing it John Tortorella’s way, and the players are buying in

Atkinson was joined in the press box by Morgan Frost, who has been scratched a bunch of times this season. Frost was a healthy scratch for 10 of the first 20 games but has not missed a game since Nov. 24 against the New York Rangers. In the past 17 games, he has seven points (three goals, four assists), including six points at even strength.

With Atkinson and Frost out of the lineup — two key power-play guys — each of the Flyers’ units saw some tweaks.

The forward group on power play No. 1 did not see any changes, but it was Egor Zamula on the point. Zamula has grown since the start of the year when he struggled to make the quick passes and decisions Tortorella wanted. He has gained considerable confidence playing on the power play and showcased it on Thursday night, playing with the top group by making quick decisions, sharp passing and taking big-time shots from the point.

The second unit saw Cam York at the point, Scott Laughton at the net front, Tyson Foerster in the bumper, Bobby Brink on the left side, and Travis Sanheim on the right.

Although neither unit scored in the game, across their four power plays the Flyers had four shots blocked and put 11 shots on goal, including six during a full two-minute, two-man advantage late in the first period.

“The 5-on-3, we generated chances. We can’t score. Goalie played well, their goaltender played really well,” Tortorella said before adding, “We’ll be OK. Just keep on working at it. We know we’re not scoring on it. Just keep on trying.”

Added Farabee: “Obviously, you want to score on every power play, for sure. I felt like our 5-on-3 was really good. I felt like we had the chances. Their goalie, I thought he stood on his head the whole night. The chances are there, I think it’s just more bearing down and finishing.”

Rasmus Ristolainen played in his 700th NHL game. ... Rhett Gardner, who was signed as a free agent July 1, made his Flyers debut. ... Nicolas Deslauriers returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch against the Edmonton Oilers.

The Flyers host the Calgary Flames on Saturday (1 p.m., NBCSP). The two teams met on New Year’s Eve, with the Flyers cutting into two-goal leads twice before losing 4-3.

» READ MORE: Flyers’ New Year’s fireworks were a dud in Calgary