Flyers defeat Blue Jackets in Atkinson return to Columbus

COLUMBUS --Kevin Connauton scored for the first time in more than three years, helping the Philadelphia Flyers defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 at Nationwide Arena on Thursday.

Martin Jones made 26 saves for the Flyers (23-37-11), who scored three straight goals in the second period and had lost five of six.
"One of the things we talked about before the game was we had to be better in the neutral zone," Philadelphia coach Mike Yeo said. "I thought we did a good job of that, whether it's executing and finding a way to get into the offensive zone and playing in the offensive zone, or whether it's tracking and not allowing those teams to get to their game. I thought that was a big factor in the second."
Eric Robinson scored, and Elvis Merzlikins made 27 saves for the Blue Jackets (33-33-6), who have lost seven of eight and defeated the Flyers 4-2 on Tuesday to open the home-and-home.
"We were lifeless tonight," Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. "All the way through. I didn't like us at all. No excuses tonight. We were not engaged in that game at all. We were nowhere near where we needed to be."

Philadelphia forward Cam Atkinson had four shots on goal in 17:31 of ice time in his first game at Columbus since being traded to the Flyers on July 24 after 10 seasons with the Blue Jackets (2011-21). He received a long standing ovation during and after a video tribute in the first period.
"This is why I call this place home for us and the fans have shown me love since Day One, so what a great tribute," he said. "Obviously, I thank the Blue Jackets for that. Truly something I'll remember for the rest of my life."
Robinson gave Columbus a 1-0 lead on a breakaway at 15:06 of the first period with his second shorthanded goal of the season.
"Weird game," Robinson said. "From the start not a lot of energy it felt like from either team. That was our biggest issue, we needed to play with more energy."
Connauton tied it 1-1 at 8:00 of the second period with his first NHL goal since Feb. 4, 2019, ending a 56-game drought. The defenseman snapped a 40-foot shot from the left face-off circle to the far post.
Owen Tippett made it 2-1 at 13:26 after getting to a bouncing puck in the left circle following a failed clearing attempt by the Blue Jackets.
"When you get chances and they don't go in, it's easy to get frustrated, but I think when you're not getting chances is when you should be frustrated," Tippett said. "When you're getting chances you know one's coming, and when one goes in and squeaks in tonight, it's a good feeling."

Noah Cates increased the lead to 3-1 at 16:41 with his second NHL goal, both coming in the past two games. It was his fifth NHL game. The puck came off the end boards to Cates near the left post, and he banked it in off Merzlikins.
"It was a pretty fortuitous bounce, pretty far out and I just kind of chipped it and it went off his back," Cates said. "Kind of a weird goal, a lucky one, but I'll take it."
Travis Konecny made it 4-1 at 16:55 of the third period with a shot from low in the left circle that trickled past Merzlikins.
"It felt like there was no energy for both teams," Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski said. "We had chances to score. A few of our mistakes, a few bad bounces and they are up 3-1. Neither team played that great but they found a way to win."
NOTES: The Flyers were 0-for-4 on the power play for a second consecutive game and are 1-for-26 in the past nine. … Philadelphia is 5-31-4 when its opponent scores first. … Forward Patrik Laine, who leads the Blue Jackets with 25 goals in 53 games, has not scored in nine games. He had four shots on goal in 17:27. … Atkinson, selected by Columbus in the sixth round (No. 157) of the 2008 NHL Draft, is second in Blue Jackets history in points (402), goals (213), games played (627) and game-winning goals (42), trailing Rick Nash in each category. Atkinson is first with 16 shorthanded goals.