Columbus @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 27, 2019 ) Philadelphia 3, Columbus 2

The Columbus Blue Jackets have followed a two-month stretch of sterling play with their second five-game winless skid of the season. The Blue Jackets look to get back on track and defeat the Philadelphia Flyers for the first time this season on Tuesday when the Metropolitan Division rivals open a home-and-home series in the City of Brotherly Love.

"The season is still long. We have 20-something games, so we still have time," Columbus rookie goaltender Elvis Merzlikins said after Sunday's 4-3 shootout loss to New Jersey. "... We are not losing it. I believe and I know my teammates are going to fight and we are going to do beautiful things." The Blue Jackets put forth an ugly performance in a 7-4 setback in Philadelphia on Oct. 26 before their strong start went for naught in a 3-2 setback to the Flyers a month later. Columbus' recent swoon has it tied in points with the New York Islanders for third place in the congested Metro, one ahead of a Flyers club that collected at least a point in 10 of 13 games (9-3-1) before dropping a 5-3 decision to Tampa Bay on Saturday. "We'll go home, we just finished a challenging stretch here of five or six games in five or six different cities. We're going to go home, rest up, and get ready for Columbus," Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: FS Ohio, NBCS Philadelphia

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (30-18-12): Columbus skated away with just one point on Sunday despite holding an early two-goal advantage and unleashing 55 shots on Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, much to the chagrin of rookie defenseman Andrew Peeke. "I mean, with a 2-0 lead going into the second period, I think two points is the only result that is acceptable for this game," said Peeke, who scored 2:28 in into the contest for his first career NHL goal. Zach Werenski scored his league-leading 18th goal by a defenseman nearly four minutes later and resides one shy of Oliver Bjorkstrand for top honors on the club.

ABOUT THE FLYERS (32-20-7): James van Riemsdyk and captain Claude Giroux have answered respective sluggish stretches during the season by collecting at least a point in five straight games. Van Riemsdyk has four goals and as many assists during his current run, and had two of each in the season series against Columbus. Giroux has one goal and one assist versus the Blue Jackets and three and six, respectively, in his last five games overall.

OVERTIME

1. Philadelphia C Sean Couturier, who leads the team in assists (35) and points (52), has 15 and 22, respectively, in his last 19 games.

2. Columbus C Pierre-Luc Dubois has recorded 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in his last 14 road games.

3. Flyers G Carter Hart sports a sizzling 14-2-2 record with a 1.65 goals-against average and .941 save percentage at home this season.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 2, Flyers 1