Puck drop: 7:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia (Flyers), CBJNHL / CBJHN (Blue Jackets), ESPN+ (select markets)
This Metropolitan Division matchup is the first of four meetings between the teams this season. Both clubs sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference early, with low-scoring offenses and injury concerns. Columbus has played fewer games overall, while Philadelphia has a heavier early schedule.
Current Rosters & Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets (coached by Rick Bowness):
Projected forwards: Valeri Nichushkin – Adam Fantilli – Kent Johnson; Matthew Knies – Charlie Coyle – Mathieu Olivier; Sean Monahan – Cole Sillinger – Conor Garland; Dmitri Voronkov – Luca Del Bel Belluz – Ryan Lomberg.
Defense: Zach Werenski – Damon Severson; Jake Christiansen – Denton Mateychuk; Dante Fabbro – Erik Gudbranson (Fabbro a game-time decision for potential season debut).
Goalies: Cam Talbot / Jet Greaves (Talbot or Greaves expected; reports lean toward one of them starting). Key contributors early include Adam Fantilli (scoring and OT heroics), Kent Johnson, Charlie Coyle, Zach Werenski (strong on the back end), and Denton Mateychuk.
Philadelphia Flyers (coached by Rick Tocchet):
Projected forwards: Trevor Zegras – Christian Dvorak – Noel Acciari; Porter Martone – Noah Cates – Matvei Michkov; Alex Bump – Sean Couturier – Tyson Foerster; Michael Bunting – Denver Barkey – Cole Knuble (or similar variations).
Defense: Travis Sanheim – Oliver Bonk; Nick Seeler – Jamie Drysdale; Cam York – Hunter McDonald (York activated and expected to play).
Goalies: Dan Vladar / Joseph Woll (rotation likely; Vladar or Woll projected to start). Matvei Michkov has been a bright spot with strong early production (multiple goals, including multi-goal games). Trevor Zegras, Noah Cates, and Sean Couturier provide secondary creation.
Injury Reports
Blue Jackets:
Ivan Provorov (D): Out (lower body).
Isac Lundestrom (C): Out (Achilles/lower body; longer-term).
Dante Fabbro (D): Game-time decision / potential return (upper body; full participant in skate).
Other notes: Caleb MacDonald (lower body) mentioned in some reports as out.
Flyers:
Travis Konecny (RW): Out (lower body; IR, expected mid-early November).
Owen Tippett (RW): Out (upper body; IR).
Nikita Grebenkin (RW): Out (back; longer-term).
Rasmus Ristolainen (D): Out (upper body/hand; IR, ~2 weeks after re-aggravation).
Cam York (D): Activated from IR and expected to play after missing time.
Philadelphia is more shorthanded up front; Columbus has blue-line questions but potential reinforcements.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Matvei Michkov vs. Columbus defense (Werenski / Mateychuk / Christiansen group): Michkov has been Philadelphia’s top threat. Containing his shot volume and playmaking will be critical for the Jackets’ penalty kill and even-strength structure.
Adam Fantilli / Kent Johnson / Valeri Nichushkin vs. Flyers top-six and Sanheim/Drysdale pairs: Columbus’s young core and secondary scoring against a Flyers group that has struggled to generate consistent offense.
Zach Werenski vs. Zegras / Michkov / Cates: Werenski’s minutes and transition play will be tested by Philadelphia’s skill pieces.
Goaltending battle (Talbot/Greaves vs. Vladar/Woll): Both teams have allowed goals at a high rate early. Special teams and rebound control could decide a low-event game.
Special teams: Flyers’ power play has shown improvement; Columbus’s PP ranks near the bottom. Faceoff edge leans Columbus early.
Recent Team Forms
Blue Jackets (4-5-0): Recent results include an OT win over Vegas (2-1 on Oct. 24, Fantilli OT winner, Talbot strong), mixed results against Toronto, Minnesota, NY Rangers, and others. Offense ranks near the bottom (~2.3 GF/G); defense has been leaky at times (~3.3 GA/G). Strong faceoff percentage. Coming off a home win and opening a road stretch.
hockey-reference.com
Flyers (3-7-3): Lost 5-4 to Anaheim on Saturday after leading 2-0 and 3-2 (Woll struggled). Prior results mixed; overall low scoring (~1.85 GF/G, league-worst range) but better penalty kill. Heavy home schedule early. Michkov providing offense, but depth scoring and consistency lacking. Home record 2-3-2.
Series History
Columbus swept the three meetings last season (2025-26). Recent head-to-head has favored the Blue Jackets. All-time Metropolitan rivalry games have been competitive, but recent trends and Columbus’s edge in the prior season series give the visitors some psychological advantage in the first meeting of 2026-27.
Betting Trends
Both teams rank among the league’s lowest-scoring early. Columbus has been better against Metropolitan foes so far; Philadelphia has struggled in division play. Low totals are common when these clubs meet given offensive limitations. Home underdogs and unders have been relevant early-season angles in similar matchups.
Game Odds
Columbus Blue Jackets – 115
Philadelphia Flyers 5.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, October 26, 2026
