Tippett, Konecny score two as Flyers top Blue Jackets

This was the sort of game that you want to see out of the Philadelphia Flyers. The team took control early and never let go. They capitalized on mistakes by the other team and limited their own. Two goals each by Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett helped to seal the deal as the Flyers pounded on the last-place Columbus Blue Jackets for a 5-3 victory.

When the Flyers traded for Tippett back in the spring, this was the sort of game that they hoped they would see with him. Tippett was a highly touted prospect who was drafted high up by the Florida Panthers. He hadn’t had a ton of success yet at the NHL level. His goals, his ninth and tenth on the season now tie a career-high, in 28 games, that he set in all of last season. Tippett is now second on the team in goals scored, behind Konecny’s 14.

Konecny scored the only goal in the first period. With Columbus on the power play, TK intercepted the puck, took it the length of the ice, faked a shot that totally fooled blueliner Marcus Bjork and goaltender Daniil Tarasov, and then powered the shot in for a shorthanded goal. Tarasov would surrender four goals on 38 shots.

The Flyers have to get better at holding onto early leads

But, as often happens, the Flyers took an early lead in a game just to let it go. Columbus would score two quick goals in the first half of the second period by Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson.

Two minutes after Johnson’s goal, Morgan Frost fired off a shot from the top of the left circle, after being fed a pass from Cam York. The pass found the back of the net to tie it up. Since being called up, York has scored four points in his six games, including two assists on Tuesday night. Likewise, Frost’s goal, his sixth of the year, is his third in five games.

Tippett’s first goal of the night would come at 14:48 in the second period to break the tie. Konecny would add an insurance goal almost three minutes into the third while Tippett would pound home an empty netter in the final minutes of the game to put it away, following a goal by Andrew Peeke midway through the third.

Carter Hart faced 33 shots and successfully blocked 30 of them. He has been very busy lately as he has stopped 107 attempts on 115 shots over the last three games.

For the Flyers, this was a great game showcasing the talent that the young players have. Frost is on a two-game goal streak, Tippett had an outstanding game, and York is gaining valuable experience at the NHL level. Likewise, the Flyers as a whole are starting to find their scoring touch again. This is the first time that the team has scored three or more goals in consecutive games since Oct. 27-29.

This is the last game that Philly will play at him in 2022. The Flyers hit the road for a long road trip. They will travel to Toronto on Thursday before heading south to Raleigh to take on the Hurricanes on Friday night. Following that, they will head out to California on a West Coast swing after a five-day holiday rest to do battle with San Jose, Los Angeles, and Anaheim. The Flyers will return home on January 5, 2023, to start a three-game homestand.