Konecny’s Hat Trick Not Enough as Flyers Fall Late to Blue Jackets, 5-3
For a brief moment late in the third period, it looked like Travis Konecny might will the Flyers to another comeback. The high-energy forward, already with two goals on the night, buried his third with just under five minutes to go, tying the game and giving the Flyers life. But that spark was short-lived, as the Columbus Blue Jackets answered right back - and this time, Philadelphia couldn’t recover.
Despite Konecny’s hat trick heroics, the Flyers dropped a 5-3 decision on Wednesday night, their ninth loss in the last 11 games. It was a game defined by defensive lapses, missed calls, and timely Columbus responses - a frustrating recipe for a Flyers team still trying to find consistency.
Early Punch, Early Response
The game got off to a rocky start for the Flyers. Just 38 seconds in, a turnover in their own zone led to Charlie Coyle cashing in for his 12th goal of the season. It was the kind of early mistake that’s plagued Philadelphia during this recent rough stretch - a breakdown in puck management that immediately put them behind.
But credit to Konecny for swinging the momentum back. At 9:03 of the first, he fired home his 18th of the season to even the score, showing once again why he’s been the heartbeat of this offense.
Still, the Flyers couldn’t escape the first period without more adversity. With under a minute left, Owen Tippett was taken down by Zach Werenski - a play that looked like it warranted a penalty, but the refs kept the whistles silent. Seconds later, Werenski set up Kirill Marchenko, who netted his 19th of the year to give Columbus a 2-1 lead heading into the intermission.
Second Period Slippage
The second period saw the Blue Jackets turn up the pressure - and the Flyers struggled to keep pace. Erik Gudbranson made it 3-1 just under two minutes in, sneaking a long-range shot past a screened Dan Vladar. It was Gudbranson’s first goal of the season, and it underscored the Flyers’ ongoing issues with clearing traffic in front of their net.
Columbus dominated the shot count through two periods, outshooting Philadelphia 23-13 and controlling the pace. But the Flyers weren’t done.
Konecny Keeps Them In It
Vladar came up with a key save early in the third, one that was confirmed no goal after a review - a moment that kept the Flyers within striking distance. Then, at 4:08, Konecny struck again, cutting the deficit to 3-2 and injecting some much-needed energy into the building.
With under five minutes to go, Konecny completed the hat trick, finishing off a slick feed from Travis Sanheim to tie the game at 3-3. It was his third of the night and a reminder of just how dangerous he can be when he’s in rhythm.
But once again, the Flyers’ defensive zone coverage let them down.
Columbus Closes the Door
Just 1:18 after Konecny’s equalizer, Damon Severson found Sean Monahan wide open on the weak side - a breakdown that left Vladar with no chance. Monahan buried his ninth of the season to reclaim the lead for Columbus, and that was all they needed.
Mathieu Olivier sealed it with an empty-netter with 1:06 remaining, closing the book on a night where the Flyers showed flashes but couldn’t string together a full 60 minutes.
Stat Sheet and Standouts
Vladar finished with 26 saves on 30 shots, while Elvis Merzlikins turned aside 23 of 26 at the other end to earn the win. Columbus got multi-point nights from Coyle, Olivier, Werenski, and Cole Sillinger - a balanced effort that proved too much for a Flyers squad still searching for answers.
What’s Next
The Flyers won’t have much time to dwell on this one. They’re back in action Thursday night, wrapping up a back-to-back set with a tough test against the Boston Bruins. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that Konecny is clearly locked in - and if the rest of the lineup can tighten up defensively, there’s still time to turn things around.
But time is ticking. And the margin for error is getting thinner by the game.