Flyers handle Blue Jackets, gain in Metropolitan race

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers moved into third place in the Metropolitan Division with a 5-1 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday.

Travis Konecny had a goal and two assists for Philadelphia (33-20-7), which is 8-3-1 in its past 12 games. Jakub Voracek had a goal and an assist and Carter Hart made 28 saves.
The Flyers' 15 shots were a season low; they had 18 in a 4-1 loss at the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 14.
WATCH: [All Blue Jackets vs. Flyers highlights]
"I honestly don't think it was one of our best games," Flyers forward Kevin Hayes said. "Obviously the score doesn't say that, but we should be better next game. I know we scored five goals, but I think we definitely didn't have our A-game. We got some puck luck, and it's a huge two points."
Oliver Bjorkstrand scored for Columbus (30-19-12), whose winless streak reached a season-high six games (0-3-3). It's their longest since March 30-April 8, 2017 (0-5-1).

Elvis Merzlikins made eight saves on 12 shots before being removed 3:40 into the third period. Matiss Kivlenieks made two saves.
Columbus, the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes are one point behind Philadelphia in the Metropolitan and tied for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
The Blue Jackets outshot the Flyers 29-15, but coach John Tortorella said the quantity did not reflect the quality.
"We need to funnel pucks (to the net)," he said. "We made too many extra plays. ... I don't think we played a bad game, certainly not a 5-1 game, but we need to continue to remind ourselves how we have to play the game."
Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno said, "Disappointing when you look up at the shots on net, and I think we outshot them a lot tonight and had some moments when we outplayed them. But we have to find answers to score goals and keep them out of our net."

The Flyers said their game plan was to start by playing fast and sustain that tempo. They scored twice in the first 4:30.
Hayes' shot from the left side along the goal line banked in off Merzlikins' back to make it 1-0 at 3:28, and Sean Couturier scored through Merzlikins' five-hole on a breakaway 1:02 later made it 2-0.

"We tried to get some forecheck going, put pressure on their [defensemen]," Couturier said. "I think we capitalized on our chances."
Merzlikins said, "It was a hard start to the game. The first one bouncing from the skate and my head. The second one, he came out in a breakaway and loses the puck. It was weird goals."
Philippe Myers extended the lead to 3-0 at 13:32 of the second period.
Columbus cut it to 3-1 on Bjorkstrand's power-play goal from the slot with 2:39 left in the period.
Konecny made it 4-1 when he reached with one hand to tip Robert Hagg's point shot at 3:40 of the third.
Voracek scored on the power play at 10:14 of the third for the 5-1 final.

The teams play again Thursday in the second half of a home-and-home.

They said it

"We're in our home building. It is a big game for us. We know what the standings are right now. It is going to be a lot of fun playing at Nationwide [Arena] again, and we are looking forward to it." -- Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski
"We've just got to play our way. If we play the right way and the way we can, we'll make the playoffs." -- Flyers forward Sean Couturier

Need to know

Bjorkstrand has five points (three goals, two assists) during a five-game point streak. ... Flyers forward Claude Giroux had two assists to give him 235 power-play assists, passing Bobby Clarke for the most in Philadelphia history. He also has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) during a season-high six-game point streak. … Konecny reached 20 goals for a third straight season and has an NHL career-high 51 points.

What's next

Blue Jackets:Host the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SN, FS-O, NBCSP, NHL.TV)
Flyers: At the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SN, FS-O, NBCSP, NHL.TV)