Flyers Dig Out of First-Period Hole, But Can’t Complete the Comeback in Overtime

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Flyers (3-7-4) crawled out of a deep 3-0 hole dug in the first period on Tuesday vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets (5-5-0) and forced overtime, but could not complete the comeback, collapsing in overtime. Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, and Denton Severson scored for the Blue Jackets. Noah Cates, Trevor Zegras, and Jamie Drysdale scored for the Flyers. The Flyers avoided disaster early in the first period when another miscommunication behind the net nearly led to another goal for the opposition. Dan Vladar left the puck back for the Flyers’ defense, but hit traffic from his own team, causing a struggle to get back to the net. Travis Sanheim nearly put the puck in his own net, but Philly was able to avoid disaster. Then, disaster struck. The Flyers were getting bullied in the defensive zone. They couldn’t hold onto pucks, win board battles, or keep the Blue Jackets from setting up anything. Columbus scored 3 goals in less than 3 minutes, digging quite an early hole. The Blue Jackets outshot the Flyers 7-2 in the period. Philly came alive, to a degree, in the second period. They were playing with a little more aggression and creating some actual chances. Noah Cates and Porter Martone sparked some life into the Flyers as the two combined for the team’s first goal halfway through the game. Matvei Michkov nearly tacked on another moments later after a great feed from Denver Barkey, but was denied by the post. That was the first of a number of great chances in the 2nd. The Flyers found life, outshooting the Blue Jackets 13-5 in the frame, but could only score the one goal. Philly entered the third period with the same aggression, but far less offense. Despite the intense effort, they were struggling to generate any sort of dangerous chance. A power play in the latter half of the period gave them a chance to break through, but they could not get anything going. Trevor Zegras gave the Flyers a late lifeline with a goal to bring his team within a score in the final 5 minutes of the game. With under 2 minutes to play, the Flyers sent Dan Vladar to the bench for the extra attacker, and it worked. Jamie Drysdale tied the game at 3 in the final 10 seconds, sending the game to overtime. Matvei Michkov was stripped of the puck at the blueline, leading to a 2-man breakaway for the Blue Jackets, who had a sure shot to win the game, but Dan Vladar made the big stop, but could not do it again as another 2-on-2 led to Kent Johnson calling the game-winner. The Blue Jackets avoided the collapse, and the Flyers fell 4-3 in overtime. Read More: Flyers Game 14: Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs. Blue JacketsGoalsP1: 10:58/9:02 – Oliver Bonk went off for a change during a Blue Jackets rush, leaving Noah Cates in to cover the rush. Adam Fantilli carried the puck in the zone and dropped it back for Kent Johnson (4). Cates stuck with Johnson, allowing Fantilli (4) to sneak behind the Flyers’ defense, get an easy look on goal, and bury the shot. 1-0 Blue Jackets.ADAM FANTILLI PICKIN' UP RIGHT WHERE HE LEFT OFF 💥CBJ x @FanaticsSportspic.twitter.com/xKplRpH6AU— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 27, 2026P1: 7:06/12:54 – Bonk loses the puck in the defensive zone, extending the Blue Jackets’ possession. Valeri Nichushkin (5) jumps on it, gets the puck to Zach Werenski (7), who fires a shot from the point, which bounces off Kent Johnson (5) and past Vladar. 2-0 Blue Jackets. KJ GOT IN ON THE FUN! 🚨CBJ x @FanaticsSportspic.twitter.com/2QRayHMGyt— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 27, 2026P1: 13:44/6:12 – The Blue Jackets bullied the Flyers in board battles in their offensive zone. Charlie Coyle beat both Cam York and Jamie Drysdale for the puck along the boards, getting the puck to Matthew Knies (3), who found Matthew Olivier in the slot. Olivier (1) dropped the puck back for Denton Mateychuk, who fired the shot past Vladar. 3-0 Blue Jackets.DENTON PUT IT ON A WIRE AND WE'VE GOT 3! 🚨CBJ x @FanaticsSportspic.twitter.com/rYeHMq5gaz— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 27, 2026P2: 9:59/10:01 – Porter Martone (3) carried the puck into the zone and fired a shot from the slot. Cam Talbot made the initial stop, but the puck snuck through. Noah Cates (1) crashed to the net and was able to push the puck over the goal line, getting the Flyers on the board. Oliver Bonk (5) got the secondary assist. 3-1 Blue Jackets.Left some candy on the front step.#CBJvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyerspic.twitter.com/SCaYhyoNxA— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 28, 2026P3: 15:04/4:56 – Trevor Zegras (4) stuck with the play, flipping a loose puck off the back of Cam Talbot and into the net after Travis Sanheim’s (4) point blast was deflected by Christian Dvorak (3) for the initial shot. 3-2 Blue Jackets. Ziggy didn't hear no bell. 🥊#CBJvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyerspic.twitter.com/AhfWX7dp6m— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 28, 2026P3: 0:10/19:50 – Trevor Zegras (8) sets up a great chance for Tyson Foerster (1), who sent the puck on goal, bouncing off Jamie Drysdale (1) for the very late-game equalizer. 3-3 tie.AIN’T OVER ’TIL IT’S OVER.#CBJvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyerspic.twitter.com/rPDgNbV6p6— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 28, 2026OT: 2:22/2:38 – A second consecutive two-on-none led to Kent Johnson (8) ending the game for the Blue Jackets. 4-3 Blue Jackets. Penalties P1: 9:03/10:57 – Conor Garland and Matvei Michkov, 2 minutes each for roughing, resulting in 4-on-4.P1: 14:03/5:57 – Sean Monahan gets called for a hook on Hunter McDonald. Flyers got the power play. P1: 0:54/19:06 – Christian Dvorak called for holding Charlie Coyle, resulting in a Blue Jackets power play. P3: 10:56/9:04 – Jacob Christiansen gets called for interference. Philly got the power play in the final 10 minutes of the game. Lines & PairsFlyersZegras – Dvorak – KnubleMartone – Cates – MichkovBump – Barkey – FoersterBunting – Couturier – AcciariSanheim – BonkYork – DrysdaleMcDonald – SeelerVladarWollBlue Jackets Nichushkin – Fantilli – Johnson Knies – Coyle – OlivierMonahan – Sillinger – GarlandVoronkov – Del Bel Belluz – Lomberg Werenski – SeversonChristiansen – MateychukFabbro – GudbransonTalbotGreavesWhat’s Next for the FlyersTuesday was the first game of a back-to-back for the Flyers, who will travel to Washington, D.C., to take on the Capitals at Capital One Arena on Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET. Read More: Jacob Gaucher & Cam York are Back; Flyers’ Injured Forwards Farther Away Than We Thought?Read more at Philly Hockey Now