Jet Greaves pitched a 29-save shutout on Tuesday night in Philadelphia. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Blue Jackets Excel in All Phases to Defeat Flyers

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Mark Scheig | Last updated Apr 15, 2025 10:06 PM ET

Once again, the Columbus Blue Jackets faced elimination. Once again, they staved off elimination. On Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers, it was a textbook performance in all facets of the game that kept the Blue Jackets’ season alive.

Jet Greaves, who was named the NHL’s First Star for last week, stopped all 29 shots he faced. Dante Fabbro’s second-period goal held up as the game winner. The Blue Jackets defeated the Flyers 3-0.

Tuesday night’s win was a total team effort.

Game Recap

The Flyers had several chances to open the scoring. Greaves answered all of them. Although the shots in the period were 9-9, the Blue Jackets had to kill two penalties. Going into the locker room 0-0 seemed to calm the team down.

The Blue Jackets came out in the second and took control of the game. Just 2:32 in, Fabbro’s blast over the shoulder of Samuel Ersson gave them a 1-0 lead.

Just like in the first, the Flyers had several chances to score. The moment of the period was when Greaves casually gloved down a blast from Travis Konecny. It showed just how much in control Greaves was. His calming influence has been paramount to this late season run for the Blue Jackets.

Jet Greaves pitched a 29-save shutout on Tuesday night in Philadelphia. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Before the end of the second period, Emil Andrae took an interference call against Zach Aston-Reese. The Blue Jackets immediately made them pay. Kent Johnson scored seconds into that power play to make it 2-0.

Knowing that the Blue Jackets needed to win in regulation, Johnson’s goal was a huge goal to give them some extra cushion. Then to finish things off, Adam Fantilli connected on his 30th goal of the season joining Kirill Marchenko in the 30-goal club. That was the exclamation point giving them a 3-0 lead.

Zach Werenski assisted on the first two goals and has seemed to find his energy again. He also reached 80 points on the season. Only Artemi Panarin has had more points in a single Blue Jackets’ season doing it twice.

Tuesday night was just a textbook performance by the Blue Jackets. They took the slot away from the Flyers and were in control throughout. They got good special teams, timely saves and clutch scoring.

Now the pressure goes squarely back on the Montreal Canadiens. They host the Carolina Hurricanes Wednesday night. One point for the Canadiens will clinch the final playoff spot in the East eliminating the Blue Jackets. If the Canadiens lose in regulation to Carolina, then the Blue Jackets can clinch Thursday with a regulation win against the New York Islanders.

Should this happen, it would mark the first occurrence in NHL history of a team coming back from five points down with three games to go.

The Blue Jackets have overcome so much in 2024-25. Do they have one more favor given to them? See you Wednesday night.