Marchen-K-Os Flyers: Blue Jackets add another two points

Saturday, March 14, 2026
Staff Reports
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Blue Jackets' Kirill Marchenko on the ice

Columbus Blue Jacket forward Kirill Marchenko scored in regulation and in the shootout Saturday to beat Philadelphia, 2-1. File photo

Columbus’s leading goal scorer, Kirill Marchenko, found Philadelphia’s net twice Saturday night and that’s all the Blue Jackets needed to beat the Flyers 2-1 at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The two points gained in the shootout victory tightened the playoff race in the NHL’s Eastern Division with 16 games remaining.

The game in Philly was the third and final game of the Jackets’ current road trip that saw the team beat Tampa Bay, 5-2, Tuesday and fall in overtime, 2-1, at Florida Thursday. The OT loss to the Panthers was the third such defeat in a four-game stretch that gave Columbus something to prove against the Flyers.

Saturday’s game started well for the Blue Jackets. With just 4:21 gone in the first period, Marchenko posted his team-leading 25th goal of the season with Adam Fantilli (28) and Damon Severson (22) picking up assists. Just over six minutes later, Alex Bump scored for Philadelphia and that’s how regulation play ended, 1-1.

In between, the two defenses took over, with Columbus tallying more shot attempts, 28-19, and four more tries that rang off the goal frame’s iron. The Blue Jackets were able to kill off four Philly power-play opportunities, while failing to capitalize on the one extra-man chance they had.

Neither squad recorded a goal in the overtime period, so things would be decided in a shootout. Columbus goalie Jet Greaves, who stopped 18 of 19 shots (.947) on the night, denied Philadelphia’s shootout tries from sharpshooters Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras, and Travis Konecny.

After Kent Johnson and Fantilli failed to get one past Flyers’ goaltender Dan Vladar, it was Marchenko’s turn. Known for beating goalies in this situation with a five-hole shot, he faked to the middle and snuck a backhand past Vladar’s right side for the winner.

When the dust settle around the league Saturday night, the Blue Jackets were still outside looking in as far as a playoff spot was concerned, but the possibilities had taken a turn. Columbus is now a point behind Boston and Detroit for a wild-card slot. The Jackets have a game in hand when compared to the Red Wings.

In the Metropolitan Division, the Blue Jackets are two points behind both Pittsburgh and the New York Islanders with a game in hand against the Isles. Columbus has two home games remaining against the Bruins, a game at Detroit, and a game on Long Island.

Before that, the Blue Jackets return to Nationwide Arena to begin a three-game homestand with a game Tuesday against the Metro-leading Carolina Hurricanes. The puck is slated to drop at 7:00 p.m.