Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
TV/Streaming: ESPN+, CBJHN / CBJNHL, NBC Sports Philadelphia
This is a Metropolitan Division matchup between two teams near the bottom of the standings early in the 2026-27 season. The Blue Jackets hold a slight edge in the standings and are coming off a three-game losing streak, while the Flyers have been inconsistent and poor in division play (0-4-3).
Injury Reports
Flyers
Nikita Grebenkin (RW): Out (upper-body/back), on IR, expected return around mid-February.
Noel Acciari (C): Day-to-day (upper body); left the Nov. 11 game vs. Edmonton and status uncertain.
Rasmus Ristolainen was recently activated from IR and has returned to the lineup. Healthy scratches have included David Jiříček, Simon Benoit, and Cole Knuble in recent games.
Blue Jackets
Conor Garland (RW): Out (upper-body), indefinitely.
Isac Lundeström (C): Out (Achilles), on LTIR; still weeks away.
Sean Monahan (C): Day-to-day (upper body); left the Nov. 12 game vs. Tampa Bay and status for Saturday is uncertain.
Other notes include occasional healthy scratches (e.g., Erik Gudbranson, Luca Del Bel Belluz). Elvis Merzlikins remains out long-term (shoulder).
Projected/Recent Lineups and Key Roster Notes
Flyers (projected/recent combinations)
Forwards (examples from recent usage): Combinations featuring Trevor Zegras with Travis Konecny and Tyson Foerster; Matvei Michkov with Noah Cates/Porter Martone; Christian Dvorak with Michael Bunting/Owen Tippett; bottom-six with Sean Couturier, Denver Barkey, and Acciari (if available).
Defense: Travis Sanheim–Jamie Drysdale (top pair); combinations including Rasmus Ristolainen, Nick Seeler, Cam York, Oliver Bonk.
Goalies: Dan Vladar (likely starter; recent form includes starts in the last several games, ~.879 SV%) or Joseph Woll (~.902 SV%). Vladar has started more recently.
Blue Jackets (projected/recent combinations)
Forwards: Matthew Knies–Adam Fantilli–Kent Johnson (top line frequently); combinations with Charlie Coyle, Cole Sillinger, Mathieu Olivier, Valeri Nichushkin, Dmitri Voronkov; bottom-six with Ryan Lomberg and others. Monahan’s status will affect centering depth.
Defense: Zach Werenski–Damon Severson (heavy usage for Werenski); Ivan Provorov, Denton Mateychuk, Dante Fabbro, Jake Christiansen.
Goalies: Jet Greaves or Cam Talbot (both have seen starts; Talbot has posted stronger numbers at times ~.909 SV% in limited action).
Key current contributors:
Flyers: Matvei Michkov (team-high ~10 goals), Trevor Zegras (points leader territory with assists), Christian Dvorak, Travis Sanheim/Jamie Drysdale on the blue line, Tyson Foerster.
Blue Jackets: Kent Johnson (strong recent production, multi-point games), Zach Werenski (high assist totals and ice time), Adam Fantilli, Charlie Coyle.
Recent Team Forms
Flyers: 3-4-3 in their last 10. Averaging ~3.0 goals for and 3.1 against in that span. They took a point in a 3-2 OT loss at Edmonton on Nov. 11 (Foerster and Sanheim scored) after earlier mixed results. They are 2-6-3 on the road and struggle in division games. When they score 3+ goals they are competitive (5-1-2 overall in those games).
Blue Jackets: 4-6-0 in their last 10, but on a three-game losing streak (including recent home losses). Averaging ~2.3 goals for and 2.9 against recently. Home record is stronger (6-5-0). They won the previous meeting this season.
Both teams rank near the bottom of the league in goals per game (Flyers ~2.24, Blue Jackets ~2.35) with middling-to-poor special teams and defensive metrics in some categories.
Series History
The Blue Jackets lead the 2026-27 season series 1-0 after a 4-3 overtime win at Philadelphia on Oct. 27 (Kent Johnson scored twice, including the OT winner; Adam Fantilli and Denton Mateychuk also scored; the Flyers rallied from a 3-0 deficit with goals from Noah Cates, Trevor Zegras, and Jamie Drysdale). Columbus has had the upper hand in recent matchups overall.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Matvei Michkov (PHI) vs. Zach Werenski / CBJ defense: Michkov is the Flyers’ primary scoring threat (high goal total and shooting percentage early). Werenski logs heavy minutes and contributes offensively (goals + assists).
Kent Johnson / Adam Fantilli (CBJ) vs. Travis Sanheim–Jamie Drysdale (PHI): Johnson has been hot (multiple points in recent games and the OT hero last meeting). Fantilli brings size and skill. The Flyers’ top pair will be key in containing them.
Trevor Zegras / Travis Konecny (PHI) vs. Charlie Coyle / CBJ centers: Zegras facilitates offense; Konecny provides secondary scoring and physicality. Faceoff and defensive responsibilities for Coyle and others will matter.
Goaltending: Vladar/Woll vs. Greaves/Talbot. Both tandems have been inconsistent; save percentage and rebound control could decide a low-event game.
Special teams: Neither unit ranks highly; power-play efficiency and penalty discipline (both teams take a moderate number of penalties) will be factors.
Betting Trends
Blue Jackets have been solid at home and won the prior meeting in OT. Flyers have been competitive when scoring 3+ but struggle on the road and in division play. Recent games for both have often stayed relatively low-scoring.
The Blue Jackets should benefit from home ice, the slight edge in recent head-to-head, and the Flyers’ road/division struggles. Expect a tight, low-to-mid scoring game that could go to overtime (as the prior meeting did). Johnson/Fantilli production and home goaltending give Columbus the narrow edge, but Michkov and a Flyers push could keep it close.
Game Odds
Philadelphia Flyers 5.5
Columbus Blue Jackets – 130
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, November 13, 2026
