Game 14/84 Preview: Philadelphia Flyers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

After seeing their winning streak snapped at 3 games on Saturday against Anaheim, the Philadelphia Flyers will look to get back on track later tonight when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Flyers held an early 2-0 lead against the Ducks in Saturday’s matinee but wound up blowing 2 leads en route to a 5-4 regulation loss. It was a game they should’ve had but sloppy defense and uncharacteristically bad goaltending came to roost in that one. On the bright side, Matvei Michkov was on fire, the power play scored twice, and the offense scored 4 goals for the first time this season.

With the Flyers having alternated starts for most of this season, as well as Joseph Woll’s off-game on Saturday, head coach Rick Tocchet is turning to Dan Vladař. The 2025-26 Bobby Clarke Trophy winner is 2-3-1 on the season with a 3.16 GAA and a .900 SV%, but holds a .921 SV% and a 2.4 GAA in his last 5 games, including a .953 SV% over his last 3 starts.

The Flyers will welcome back defenseman Cam York, who was activated off IR after having missed the last 8 games. However, in his stead, they have placed Rasmus Ristolainen back on the IR after he re-aggravated his injury upon his return to the lineup on Saturday. Additionally forward Jacob Gaucher was recalled from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but was seen skating with the other extras, allowing for the return of Michael Bunting in the lineup tonight.

Offensively look no further than Michkov, who enters tonight’s game with 6 goals and 8 points and a 5-game point streak, Porter Martone and his two multi-point efforts over his last 4 games, and Trevor Zegras who is riding a 4-game point streak with 2 goals and 7 points.

As for the Blue Jackets, it’s been somewhat of a continuation from their final two weeks of the 2025-26 season, and head coach Rick Bowness is running out of answers. They did defeat Vegas on Saturday in overtime, but had previously lost 4 of their last 5 games and 5 of their previous 7 with very minimal offensive output.

Charlie Coyle leads the team with 8 points in 9 games, Kent Johnson follows him with a team-high 4 goals and 7 points, Cole Sillinger and Zach Werenski each have 6 points, and Valeri Nichushkin has 5 points to round out the top-5. Notably Adam Fantilli has 3 goals and 4 points and Matthew Knies has 2 goals and 4 points, but collectively have combined for just 2 goals and 4 points in the team’s last 8 games.

Things haven’t been better in between the pipes as Jet Greaves and Cam Talbot have allowed 28 goals in 9 games, but it’s the former’s struggles that have hurt the team to start the season. Greaves was 26-19-9 with a .908 SV% and a 2.60 GAA last year in 55 games but has a 3.34 GAA and a .863 SV% to start things out this year, including an ugly showing against Toronto in his last time out.

Bowness has decided to go with Talbot between the pipes tonight as he carries a 2-2-0 record, a .891 SV%, and a 2.82 GAA. He’s been the better of the two options early on with a .938 SV% over his last 3 appearances, which includes a 2-1 overtime victory against Vegas on Saturday.

Nevertheless, the Blue Jackets are never a team to take too lightly, as they’ve defeated the Flyers in 7 of their last 10 games, which has included 4 overtime games and the Jackets winning their last 6 meetings.

Projected Lineup: Philadelphia Flyers

#46 Trevor Zegras – #22 Christian Dvorak – #52 Noel Acciari

#94 Porter Martone – #27 Noah Cates – #39 Matvei Michkov

#20 Alex Bump – #14 Sean Couturier – #71 Tyson Foerster

#54 Cole Knuble – #86 Denver Barkey  – #58 Michael Bunting

#6 Travis Sanheim – #59 Oliver Bonk

#24 Nick Seeler – #9 Jamie Drysdale

#19 Hunter McDonald – #8 Cam York

#80 Dan Vladař

(#53 Joseph Woll)

Projected Lineup: Columbus Blue Jackets

#43 Valeri Nichushkin – #19 Adam Fantilli – #91 Kent Johnson

#89 Matthew Knies – #3 Charlie Coyle – #24 Mathieu Olivier

#23 Sean Monahan – #4 Cole Sillinger – #83 Conor Garland

#10 Dmitri Voronkov – #93 Luca Del Bel Belluz – #94 Ryan Lomberg

#8 Zach Werenski – #78 Damon Severson

#2 Jake Christiansen – #5 Denton Mateychuk

#15 Dante Fabbro – #Erik Gudbranson

#33 Cam Talbot

(#73 Jet Greaves)

FLYERS ALUMNI VEGAS AND IRELAND TRIPS

Flyers Nation and TrueFan Travel have teamed up for two trips with the Flyers Alumni!

The Las Vegas package (March 10–14) includes tickets to Flyers–Golden Knights on March 11 at T-Mobile Arena, an all-inclusive tailgate, optional flights from Philadelphia, a 4-night downtown hotel stay, an alumni pep rally and Q&A, a Flyers vs. Utah watch party, and a meet and greet.

The Ireland Golf & Tour Experience (July 20–27) includes optional flights from Philadelphia, six nights at The Brehon Killarney and Portmarnock Resort, a welcome reception, a meet and greet and Q&A with Brad Marsh, Patrick Sharp, Joe Watson, Bill Clement, Mark Recchi, and John LeClair, a live Coatesy’s Corner, and optional golf at Old Head, Dooks, Portmarnock, and Druids Glen.

Whether you’re chasing a road game in Vegas or a week on the links in Ireland, these are two chances to travel with Flyers legends!