Reunions are fun, especially when you win.
On Thursday night at Nationwide Arena, the Columbus Blue Jackets met up with an old friend, John Tortorella, and his surprising Philadelphia Flyers, as the two teams got together for the first time this season.
While the Flyers were expected to contend towards the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, and NHL standings, instead, and in typical Tortorella fashion, Tortorella has his team playing well, as the Flyers entered play with a 7-3-2 record.
Philadelphia came into Thursday's game in fourth place in the Metro, and on a two-game winning streak, following a 5-1 win on Tuesday over the St. Louis Blues.
Columbus, meanwhile, came in looking to shake a five-game losing streak as they played their first game since their trip to Finland where they dropped both contests to the Colorado Avalanche in the 2022 NHL Global Series.
Joonas Korpisalo made his second consecutive start for Columbus—first at Nationwide Arena since March of last season—stopping 32 of 34 shots. He was the second star of the game as the Blue Jackets beat the Flyers 5-2. Carter Hart made 24 saves on 27 shots.
A Little Fight
The Blue Jackets needed to shake things up in a big way. The trip overseas didn't fix things so maybe being home sweet home would solve things for a night.
Missing Jake Voracek and Sean Kuraly (both out with upper-body injuries) and Kent Johnson (precautionary), the Blue Jackets were forced to tweak the lineup.
Emil Bemstrom was recalled by the Blue Jackets on Monday. He led the Blue Jackets with five shots, had one hit, and had two takeaways in 14:11 ice time.
At the time of his call-up, he was in a tie for the AHL points lead (14) while leading the Cleveland Monsters with seven goals and tied with Brendan Gaunce—recalled Tuesday—with seven assists. Gaunce was third on the Monsters with 11 points and had four goals.
Gaunce picked up an assist on Nick Blankenburg's second goal of the season on the empty-net goal at 18:21 of the third period. Gaunce finished the night plus one with three shots and blocked a shot in 13:23 ice time.
For one of the few times this season, the Blue Jackets showed fight from start to end. Including a scrap between Mathieu Olivier and Nicolas Deslauriers in the first period, 5:59 into the game.
pic.twitter.com/Qy0zUlUNu5 #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 11, 2022
Late in the first period, Blankenburg and Joel Farabee renewed acquaintances after things got a little too close to Korpisalo in the crease.
Blankenburg and Farabee exchanged punches after #CBJ took exception to the Flyers being a little too close to Korpisalo. They both get two minutes for roughing.
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) November 11, 2022
P1 6:26
Things are getting feisty in Columbus pic.twitter.com/QiDGMDZ1Gm
— Brodes Media (@BrodesMedia) November 11, 2022
Columbus was forced to play with four defensemen after losing Zach Werenski to an injury in the first period.
Brad Larsens update on the upper-body injury that caused Zach Werenski to leave the game in the first period and not return: Its not good at all.#CBJ
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) November 11, 2022
Erik Gudbranson left the game after an awkward collision into the boards in the second period.
Brad Larsen said that Erik Gudbranson, who also left tonights game with an upper-body injury, is day-to-day. #CBJ
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) November 11, 2022
Torts Returns
The winningest coach in Blue Jackets history returned to Nationwide Arena for the first time since coaching the team from 2015-16 through the shortened 2020-21 season.
Tortorella received a video tribute during a first-period media timeout. Tabbed as the ninth head coach in team history in 2015, Tortorella leads the Blue Jackets in games coached (447), wins (227), and winning percentage (.568).
The fifth line and Torts acknowledge one another one more time. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/dUVeSgj4UP
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 11, 2022
Former Blue Jacket Cam Atkinson (upper body) did not play and has not suited up in a game yet this season. Former Ohio State Buckeye Tanner Laczynski played 8:09 for Philadelphia.
Another familiar face in the form of Lukas Sedlak (one goal, two assists this season) was back in Columbus with the Flyers.
Acquired off waivers in October from the Colorado Avalanche, Sedlak played in three regular-season games with the Avalanche last season and has played in nine games for the Flyers this season.
In Thursday's game, he was plus-one playing 14:11 with a pair of shots and had two hits.
Gaudreau Stays Hot At Home
Johnny Gaudreau's first-period goal at 3:53 broke a four-game goalless drought. More importantly, the goal gave Columbus its first lead since Oct. 23 at Madison Square Garden, when the Blue Jackets beat the Rangers 5-1.
The Flyers have allowed the first goal in 10 of their 13 games this season.
Johnny Jacket and it's 1-0. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/9HyaP8bSXy
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 11, 2022
Gaudreau added an assist later in the first period on Werenski's third goal of the season at 12:03. For Werenski, the goal is his 79th career goal, tying Ryan Johnansen for ninth in franchise history.
Gaudreau to Werenski to make it 2-0. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/zBdNTtBha6
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 11, 2022
In the second period, it was Gaudreau with some more artistry as he and Patrik Laine connected with Boone Jenner on a three-on-one, tic, tac, toe score.
For Gaudreau, it was his second assist of the game and his first three-point game as a Blue Jacket. He was the game's first star.
Jenner added his second goal of the game, and fourth of the season, on an unassisted empty-net goal at 19:42.
Jenner from Laine and Gaudreau. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/WLsW53iL8K
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 11, 2022
Gaudreau now has 10 points (six goals, four assists) in eight home games.
On An Island
The Blue Jackets travel to New York to take on the Islanders on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 pm ET. The Arizona Coyotes beat the Islanders, 2-0, at UBS Arena in New York.
