Kent Johnson scored his second goal of the game 2:22 into overtime on Tuesday night, lifting the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers after his team squandered a three-goal lead.
How Did the Blue Jackets Build Their Early Three-Goal Lead?
Columbus seized control early by scoring three goals in a span of just 2:46 during the first period. Johnson set up Adam Fantilli for the opening goal at 10:58. Just under two minutes later, Johnson deflected a shot from Zach Werenski past Philadelphia goaltender Dan Vladar to make it 2-0. Denton Mateychuk added a third goal for Columbus just 50 seconds after that.
ESPN’s box score tracking notes that Jake Christiansen earned an assist on the opening goal, while Valeri Nichushkin and Mathieu Olivier also factored into the early scoring flurry. By the end of the opening frame, the Blue Jackets held a commanding 3-0 advantage.
What Sparked the Philadelphia Flyers Comeback?
Philadelphia mounted a steady response by outshooting Columbus 28-6 over the second and third periods. Noah Cates broke the shutout in the second period by poking a loose puck past Blue Jackets goaltender Cam Talbot, with assists from Porter Martone and Oliver Bonk.
The pressure mounted in the final minutes of regulation. Trevor Zegras cut the deficit to 3-2 with just under five minutes left on the clock, receiving a pass from Christian Dvorak and Travis Sanheim. With just 11 seconds left in the third period, Zegras slid a pass to Tyson Foerster, whose shot was tipped into the net by Jamie Drysdale to tie the game at 3-3 and force overtime.
BLUE JACKETS WIN 3-3 IN OT AFTER FLYERS 3-0 COMEBACKKent Johnson scored 2:22 into overtime, his second goal of the night, and Columbus beat Philadelphia 4-3 in Philly tonight. The Flyers tied it on a Jamie Drysdale deflection with 11 seconds left in regulation.Columbus scored…
— https://x.com/ATNewsChannel/status/2115262109210890332
Despite the blown lead, Talbot finished the night with 28 saves to earn his third win of the season. Vladar stopped 11 shots for Philadelphia.
Where Do Both Teams Stand Now?
The overtime winner was Johnson’s sixth goal of the season. The sequence developed on a two-on-none breakaway following a give-and-go with Fantilli, sealing consecutive victories for Columbus for the first time this year.
While the Flyers dropped their second straight contest, they have managed to secure points in four of their last five outings following a franchise-record nine-game winless streak to start the season.
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
The Blue Jackets continue their road trip against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday. The Flyers travel to Washington to face the Capitals on Wednesday.
More on Kent Johnson
Kent Johnson ends it in overtime. His second goal of the night, 2:22 into OT, gives the Blue Jackets a 4-3 win in Philadelphia after the Flyers tied it in the final seconds of regulation. https://t.co/rlv9GGN8BT
— https://x.com/theconcoursenhl/status/2115261282450575408
Sleuth of the Game: Kent Johnson +2.65 (CBJ). Blue Jackets bundled up for a 4-3 overtime win over the Flyers, and KENT Johnson kept the ice cold for Columbus. Every player's Sleuth Rating from tonight's game. #CBJ #SleuthRating https://t.co/tICN7Uzn88 pic.twitter.com/hf1HbUoyLl
— https://x.com/PuckSleuth/status/2115257402035519820
The Flyers outshoot Columbus 31-15 and come back from a 3-0 first-period deficit to force OT, but Kent Johnson comes to the rescue with the game-winner!The Blue Jackets earn their first road win of the season!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/WsXSoAEfGQ
— https://x.com/CBoxSports/status/2115259399963037707
Aaaand Kent Johnson nets the OT winner for Columbus to take this game 4-3. #Flyers get a point after a hard-fought 2nd and 3rd periods.
— https://x.com/SGNolan/status/2115256931845574991
Kent Johnson gets another for Columbus. #Flyers now down 2-0.
— https://x.com/SGNolan/status/2115225179014005081
