While not mathematically eliminated, the Philadelphia Flyers took a huge step backwards in their playoff hunt, losing to Columbus 3-2 on Tuesday night. It was particularly painful considering how many teams ahead of them (minus the Blue Jackets) lost as well, missing a chance to gain ground on all of them.
The basics
First period: 17:07- Sean Couturier (Luke Glendening, Rasmus Ristolainen)
Second period: 0:44- Mathieu Olivier (Zack Werenski, Damon Severson) 2:28- Zack Werenski (Damon Severson, Mason Marchment)
Third period: 4:38- Mason Marchment (Kirill Marchenko, Adam Fantilli), 17:56- Jamie Drysdale (Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak)
SOG: 26 (PHI) – 19 (CBJ)
Some takeaways
First goal?
The Flyers nearly had the opening goal when Owen Tippett skated in alone in the opening minutes. Tippett tried to deke his way around Columbus goalie Jet Greaves but wasn’t able to break the double goose eggs. Given how vital the game was, it would’ve been a rather large advantage to give Philadelphia the lead. But it wasn’t meant to be. The Flyers had four of the game’s first five shots in what seemed to be a rather tentative, tight-checking start. Matvei Michkov also had a chance on what was a great shot by Noah Cates which created a juicy rebound. The Mad Russian didn’t connect.
Although it didn’t seem like a huge thing, the Flyers were successful in making some lengthy neutral zone passes through Columbus, resulting in some odd-man opportunities and better than average chances. However, nothing ended up in the back of the net. Finally, Sean Couturier got the ball rolling (more on that later) on what was as strong a first period as you could hope the Flyers could play, particularly being the first game back home after a West Coast trek. They were dominating in shots (10-3) and also Corsi For percentage (79.31 per cent). Unfortunately, when you have chances, you need to bury them. Philadelphia didn’t.
Sleepwalking second
As stellar as Philadelphia was to start the game, the second period got away from them in a hurry. That, or the fact they were playing a Columbus club that has been on a 18-3-4 tear since January. Columbus looked like a vastly different club while the Flyers could scrounge up a mere two shots on goal the first nine minutes of the middle period. Fortunately, Columbus didn’t pile it on, as the Flyers bent but didn’t completely crumble. A decent period minus those first two minutes kept them down just one goal with lots of time left.
The lone highlight of the second might have been Christian Dvorak attempting to fight Dante Fabbro who was pushing Michkov around somewhat. Michkov ended up in the penalty box as Dvorak was given the instigator penalty to go with the five minute major. It probably wasn’t the most timely of fights considering how much Dvorak is used down the middle. However, sticking up for the youngster is never a bad thing.
Return of the three amigos
Flyers captain Sean Couturier, winger Denver Barkey, and forward Luke Glendening all returned to the lineup Tuesday night in this all-important game. The three coming back meant that the Flyers would go back to their traditional 12 forwards and six defenseman versus what Philadelphia used (11/7) to end the West Coast trek. Barkey, who got clobbered on a hard hit by Kirill Marchenko the last time both clubs met, wasn’t too noticeable early.
Meanwhile Couturier started the game between Glendening and Garnet Hathaway, giving up an early Columbus chance but goalie Dan Vladar kept it scoreless. It wasn’t until late in the first when the fourth line connected, both physically and on the scoreboard. Couturier destroyed Mason Marchment with a crunching hit along the boards before the puck went to the point. A shot got through traffic and Sean Couturier was able to put the rebound in the empty net.
SEAN COUTURIER CRUSHES MASON MARCHMENT AND THEN OPENS THE SCORING!!! 1-0!!!!!!#LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/TG2Fzg23nP
— Flyers Clips (@Flyers_Clips) March 24, 2026
Couturier’s line was one of the brighter spots for Philadelphia, particularly in the second. They had one decent shift which seemed to create a bit of momentum for the next line of Zegras, Tippett, and Barkey.
Vladar very ordinary
Vladar was making his forty-third start of the season. And while he wasn’t busy in the first, he made a key save early that kept the Flyers from getting down early. Philadelphia kept Columbus on their heels the opening frame. But early in the second the Blue Jackets tied it up. Whether it was a screed from their head coach Rick Bowness, or Philadelphia sleepwalking early, the game was tied up less than a minute into the middle frame. Columbus kept coming, with Zach Werenski putting the Blue Jackets up a goal less than three minutes into the second. Both shots were stoppable, with the second one missed by Vladar. Vladar probably would not have had to make a stop had Zegras simply made the clear out of the zone.
Annnnnnd the lead is gone.
— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) March 25, 2026
2-1 CBJ on a Zach Werenski goal. pic.twitter.com/uyv0Y4Tjpw
Vladar made a redeeming save in the second against Mason Marchment as Philadelphia missed an assignment or three in their own end. But overall he was one-upped by his opponent down the other end, leaving him with a rather paltry .842 save percentage on a night he needed to be better.
Ristolainen waning?
Rasmus Ristolainen has had a workload and a half since Philadelphia kept him after the deadline. Paired with Travis Sanheim, Ristolainen has easily seen 20-plus minutes down the stretch, sometimes munching up close to half a game. Early on Ristolainen had a few miscues, however he had a nice outlet pass five minutes in, leading to a Trevor Zegras backhand that Jet Greaves stopped. But there seemed to be a few more bobbles in his game, at least early on. The defenseman did, however, get a secondary assist on the game’s opening goal.
As for his defensive partner, Sanheim was once again quite strong in the time he was used. And he was used a lot. Sanheim had 14:34 through two periods. Ristolainen was at 14:20.
Discipline was so-so
Trevor Zegras took the first minor of the game, a high-sticking penalty. It was something the Flyers needed to avoid at all costs, or at least keep to a bare minimum. The penalty kill was effective, getting the pucks out quickly and rifling them back down the Columbus end. Noah Cates had a breakaway, and was awarded a penalty shot. But Cates wasn’t able to beat the goalie, wasting another terrific chance to take the lead while also seemingly frustrating the faithful in attendance.
Columbus seemed to one-up the Flyers dumb penalty when Olivier decided to run over Noah Juulsen. Juulsen collided with his teammate before heading into Vladar. Neither Flyer was hurt and Philadelphia, if ever they needed one, needed a goal here. A shot by Michkov created havoc in front but they couldn’t cash in as Cates couldn’t get his stick on the puck. It left the Flyers with another wasted chance, now one for 23 on the power play of late.
Fight to the finish
Like the first, the line of Glendening, Couturier, and Hathaway opened the third. They established some offensive zone presence. The ensuing faceoff had Tippett again at the doorstep with Zegras nearby. Of course, with Dvorak gone for a chunk of the third due to his fighting major, the lines were juggled, with Konecny playing center with Zegras and Tippett.
The Flyers’ final nail in this night’s coffin was a laser by Marchment which whizzed by Vladar’s head, hit the iron behind him, and bounced back out. The officials thought it was off the post, but the buzzer corrected the mistake, giving Columbus the insurance goal. Looking a bit gassed the rest of the way, and simply not mustering up enough quality chances to get within one, the Flyers had to kill a high-sticking penalty by Tippett. Dvorak had another shot but Greaves had the answer.
Philadelphia pulled Vladar with just over three minutes to go. Tocchet called a time out to give the skaters a rest of sorts. After seemingly taking forever to get a shot off, and with the clock definitely not in their favor, Jamie Drysdale took a shot and, what do you know, he scored!
Still fighting. #CBJvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/BJTuH0RGUQ
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 25, 2026
A subsequent icing off the ensuing faceoff led Vladar to the bench again for another skater. A frantic finish left the Flyers a goal short, and missing a fantastic chance to legitimately get back in the playoff hunt.
All stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and NHL.com
