Flying High: Top Five Performers Against Columbus

In a new series by Philly Sports Network, we will be looking at how each guy on the Flyers’ roster fairs against the round robin and qualifying teams. Each player will be evaluated based on their points per game, as well as other factors such as average time on ice and special teams production. We will be doing this by the order of the standings. Next up, we take a look at the top performers for the Flyers against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

After the round-robin of the Eastern Conference teams, my prediction is the Philadelphia Flyers jump from the fourth seed to the second seed. In the Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals, my predictions note that the Flyers will face the Toronto Maple Leafs. Before that, the Maple Leafs have to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets in the play-in round. If the Blue Jackets are victorious instead, that means that Philadelphia may take on Columbus. That series would generously be in the Flyers favor.

All-time, the Philadelphia Flyers are 16-21-3 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In the 2019-2020 regular season, the Flyers are undefeated against the Blue Jackets. If these two teams met in the Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals, Philadelphia would likely advance in five games at the most. Speaking of the number five, there are five players to focus on in a possible series against Columbus:

He Used to Ref

It’s unbelievable how anyone can think that Kevin Hayes is overpaid. Against the Columbus Blue Jackets, he is a top contributor to the Philadelphia Flyers’ success (8g, 12a in 22 games.) The only two forwards that have more points throughout their career against the Blue Jackets are Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. When Hayes is on the ice, he elevates his teammates against Columbus. “Hollywood” is a clutch forward during even-strength or short-handed scenarios.

Best Beard In the League

From the recent Gene Hart Memorial Award winner to the NHL Fan Choice Best Beard Award winner, Jakub Voracek isn’t a slouch against his former franchise (8g, 16a in 29 games.) Voracek is similar to James van Riemsdyk when comparing the two players against their former teams. Between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Flyers won the Voracek trade. He leads the current Philadelphia roster in powerplay goals against the Blue Jackets with four. It’s no coincidence that he will be a top-five contributor against Columbus if the Flyers meet them in the playoffs.

“Eat Up, Bud.”

Philadelphia loves a player that can get under the skin of their opponents and produce on the ice. That’s the story of Travis Konecny in the NHL. Claude Giroux averages a point over 33 career games against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In comparison, Konecny has only played fifteen career games and has eighteen career points against the Blue Jackets (6g, 12a.) He’s more effective than Giroux, averaging 1.2 points per game.

The Philadelphia Farm Hand

Travis Sanheim has stated on record that he’s on his tractor from sunrise to sunset. That’s quarantine life on the family farm for Sanheim. When he’s on the ice, he’s a defenseman that’s mowing down the Columbus Blue Jackets (4g, 3a.) His career plus-minus rating (+7) is second to Matt Niskanen (+19) versus the Blue Jackets. Niskanen has played 45 career games versus Columbus compared to Sanheim’s ten.

Moose

Between Brian Elliott and Carter Hart, Elliott has had better luck against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hart has only played in two games against the Blue Jackets, owning a 1-1-0 record. Elliott has played fifteen career games against Columbus, earning a point in twelve of them. The Philadelphia Flyers are in good hands with “Moose” as an insurance policy. All-time versus the Blue Jackets, Elliott is 9-3-3 with a 91.1% save percentage and a goals against average of 2.51.

Check out our previous pieces to the Flying High Series as well…