With a key win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, the Flyers made the jump from the final wildcard spot to third place in the Metropolitan Division. They retained the spot on a day off on Wednesday, as the Islanders lost to Colorado.

Just as they did with Florida a week ago, the Flyers have a chance to create some separation with Columbus when they face each other again on Thursday night, as the Flyers look to complete a season sweep of the Blue Jackets on the road.

Game time is 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia FlyersGPGAPColumbus Blue JacketsGPGAP
Sean Couturier60183553Pierre-Luc Dubois61172744
Travis Konecny57203151Gustav Nyquist61122537
Claude Giroux60163046Zach Werenski54181836
Jake Voracek60123345Oliver Bjorkstrand48201434
James van Riemsdyk 60182038Seth Jones5662430
Player to Watch
11 Travis Konecny8 Zach Werenski
Last 5 Games: 2 G, 3 A, 5 P, +2Last 5 Games: 1 G, 2 A, 3 P, -3
Travis Konecny picked up three points in Tuesday's game to set a new career high with 51 points on the season in just 57 games played. Konecny has points in three of the last four games, including two goals to reach the 20-goal mark for the third straight season.
Zach Werenski has had to carry a large part of the defensive play with Seth Jones out with injury. Werenski is a great offensive talent and can change a game with his abilities, but it has been a struggle for Columbus to put up points with so many players out of the lineup.
Projected Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott90 Elvis Merzlikins
29 GP, 14-7-4, 2.90 GAA, .898 SV%29 GP, 12-9-6, 2.29 GAA, .924 SV%

Brian Elliott will be in goal for the Flyers on Thursday, making his third start of the season against the Blue Jackets. Elliott's last game was a 5-3 loss to the Islanders on Feb. 11, allowing four goals on 24 shots. He allowed four goals on 26 shots in the Flyers 7-4 win over Columbus on Oct. 26 and allowed two goals on 30 shots in a 3-2 win over Columbus on Nov. 27.

Elvis Merzlikins gets back in goal after a rough night on Tuesday. He allowed four goals on 12 shots before being pulled during the third period. Merzlikins is currently on a five-game personal losing streak amid Columbus' six-game losing streak.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Justin Braun (flu, day-to-day, Nolan Patrick (migrane disorder, out indefinitely), Oskar Lindblom (Ewing's sarcoma, out for season)

Scratches: Shayne Gostisbehere

Left WingCenterRight Wing
28 Claude Giroux14 Sean Couturier93 Jake Voracek
49 Joel Farabee13 Kevin Hayes11 Travis Konecny
25 James van Riemsdyk21 Scott Laughton18 Tyler Pitlick
12 Michael Raffl82 Connor Bunnaman62 Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Defense
9 Ivan Provorov15 Matt Niskanen
6 Travis Sanheim5 Phil Myers
8 Robert Hagg59 Mark Friedman
Goalie
37 Brian Elliott79 Carter Hart

Lineup Notes

Mark Friedman enters the lineup for Thursday's game. Justin Braun is out with the flu and Shayne Gostisbehere was assigned to Lehigh Valley for a conditioning stint.

Blue Jackets Projected Lineup

Injuries: Seth Jones, Cam Atkinson, Josh Anderson, Joonas Korpisalo, Ryan Murray, Alexander Wennberg, Alexandre Texier, Dean Kukan

Scratches: Gabriel Carlsson, Sonny Milano

Left WingCenterRight Wing
71 Nick Foligno18 Pierre-Luc Dubois28 Oliver Bjorkstrand
14 Gustav Nyquist11 Kevin Stenlund52 Emil Bemstrom
23 Stefan Matteau38 Boone Jenner24 Nathan Gerbe
15 Jakob Lilja20 Riley Nash50 Eric Robinson
Defense
8 Zach Werenski65 Markus Nutivaara
44 Vladislav Gavrikov58 David Savard
4 Scott Harrington2 Andrew Peeke
Goalie
90 Elvis Merzlikins80 Matiss Kivlenieks

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (16th), Blue Jackets (T-23rd)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (11th), Blue Jackets (9th)
  • Recent History vs. Blue Jackets
    • Oct. 26, 2019 - Flyers 7, Blue Jackets 4 (at PHI)
    • Nov. 27, 2019 - Flyers 3, Blue Jackets 2 (at CBJ)
    • Feb. 18, 2020 - Flyers 5, Blue Jackets 1 (at PHI)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Blue Jackets
    • Claude Giroux - 32 GP, 10 G, 22 A, 32 P
    • Travis Konecny - 14 GP, 5 G, 10 A, 15 P
    • James van Riemsdyk - 22 GP, 10 G, 9 A, 19 P
    • Jake Voracek - 28 GP, 8 G, 15 A, 23 P
    • Brian Elliott - 14 GP, 8-3-3, 2.49 GAA, .911 SV%
  • Milestone Watch
    • Scott Laughton needs three points to reach 100 for his career.

Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 93.3 WMMR

Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN and Flyers editor for SportsTalkPhilly.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.

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