Bobrovsky, Blue Jackets thwart Flyers
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Alexander Wennberg scored in the second period, Sergei Bobrovsky posted his seventh shutout of the season and the Columbus Blue Jackets ended a two-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday at Nationwide Arena.
The Blue Jackets (48-19-7) are the only team in the NHL this season that has avoided a skid longer than two games. They had suffered a hard-fought loss in a shootout to the Washington Capitals on Thursday night after falling at home to the Toronto Maple Leafs the previous night.
The win moved the Blue Jackets into a tie for second place in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference standings with the Pittsburgh Penguins. They trail the first-place Washington Capitals, who played Saturday night at home against the Arizona Coyotes, by one point in the race for the Presidents' Trophy.
The Flyers (34-32-8) were desperate for a win to keep their fading playoff hopes alive in the Eastern Conference but lost for the 10th consecutive time in Columbus. Philadelphia has not won in Nationwide Arena since Dec. 13, 2005. It is the Blue Jackets' longest home win streak against any opponent in team history.
The loss kept the Flyers in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, six points out of a wild-card playoff spot prior to Saturday's later games.
Bobrovsky was outstanding again in goal for the Blue Jackets. He made 36 saves in posting his NHL-leading 40th win of the season. He had 44 stops two night earlier against the Capitals.
Wennberg scored the only goal of the game and his 13th of the season at 13:11 of the second period on a redirect of a shot from outside the right circle from Kyle Quincy.
The Flyers controlled much of the action through all three periods but could not solve Bobrovsky. Philadelphia outshot Columbus 36-21.
Michal Neuvirth finished with 20 saves for the Flyers.
The Flyers outshot the Blue Jackets 11-5 in the first period. A flurry of activity in the final two minutes saw Bobrovsky repel three chances for Philadelphia and Neuvirth turn away chances by Columbus' Nick Foligno and Jack Johnson.
NOTES: Blue Jackets G Sergei Bobrovsky's 44 saves in a shootout loss at Washington on Thursday night were a season high. ... Zach Werenski and Seth Jones are the first two Columbus defensemen with 40 points in a season in franchise history. ... The Flyers' last win over the Blue Jackets was in March 2016. ... RW Wayne Simmonds collected his 300th career point with the Flyers in Thursday's win over Minnesota. ... The Flyers began their 16th back-to-back of the season. They travel to Pittsburgh on Sunday. ... Blue Jackets RW Oliver Bjorkstrand missed his second straight game after a hard check into the boards during Wednesday's game against Toronto.