COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Flyers threw the kitchen sink at the playoff-bound Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday afternoon, but the effort would fall short as Dave Hakstol's team dropped their third straight decision against their Metropolitan Division rivals, 1-0, and their 10th game in a row at Nationwide Arena.
The visiting Flyers demonstrated urgency, firing 36 shots at Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, but it was their former goaltender's efforts that extended the orange and black's drought in Ohio.
Goalie report
Bobrovsky, a likely Vezina candidate, earned his second career shutout of the Flyers, upping his record against his former teammates to 8-1-0, and 40-13-5 on the season.
After an uneventful opening period in which the Flyers outshot the Blue Jackets by an 11-5 margin, the scoring chances picked up for both teams. Bobrovsky denied all 24 Philadelphia shots through the first two periods, including a knuckle ball-like shot from Brayden Schenn in the opening period, as well as a close-range attempt in front of the crease off the stick of Jake Voracek in the middle stanza.
Meanwhile, Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth survived several shot attempts with traffic in front, denying the notorious Flyer killer, Nick Foligno (29 GP, 14-7-21), out in front in the first, and a wraparound attempt by Matt Calvert in the second.
Notable goals
Alexander Wennberg's tip-in goal at 13:11 of the second period opened the scoring, however, marking the 47th time this season the Blue Jackets notched the first and only goal of the tilt. Wennberg's 13th goal of the season -- redirected from a Kyle Quincey blast from the point -- forced the orange and black into catchup mode, a position they've become all too familiar with.
NHL
That's where things would remain, as the Blue Jackets remain in striking distance of the Presidents' Trophy with 103 points through 74 games. The Flyers, on the other hand, failed to keep their momentum going following Thursday's 3-1 victory in Minnesota.
Power play
A key contributor to the Flyers' woes, of course, has been their struggling power play. The Flyers entered Saturday's matinee in a 3 for 40 funk on the man advantage spanning back over their previous 11 games, a drought that Columbus was all too happy to extend to 3 for 43 after three more unsuccessful tries.
Such futility has not only made it harder for Hakstol's team to achieve the ever so valued "quick start," but it also overshadowed the penalty kill's outstanding performance on the day, holding Columbus to zero shots on two power-play chances.
Notes
The Blue Jackets are now 12-0-0 in games that start at 5 p.m. or earlier.
Claude Giroux is two goals shy of passing Jeff Carter for 15th on the team's all-time list. The captain is also five assists shy of matching Mark Recchi's mark of 395 career assists in orange and black.
What's next
With eight games remaining, the Flyers will have a quick turnaround, as they travel to take on Pittsburgh on Sunday. They will wake up Sunday morning no fewer than eight points out of the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot (see standings).