5 Takeaways: JVR Gets 300th, Tippett Tallies Twice as Flyers Snap Skid

The Philadelphia Flyers finished the home portion of their schedule with a 4-3 overtime victory Tuesday over woeful Columbus, ending their seven-game losing streak.

Owen Tippett’s second goal of the game won it with 15.5 seconds left in a Columbus-controlled overtime.

After falling into an early 2-0 hole, the Flyers took a 3-2 lead into the third.

Even against Columbus, a team with just nine road wins all season, that lead wasn’t safe. The Blue Jackets tied it at 3-3 on Sean Kuraly’s power-play deflection with 14:10 to go in regulation. The Flyers didn’t get a third-period shot until 10:20 remained.

But they survived thanks to Tippett’s thrilling play late in overtime. It was the first OT goal of his budding NHL career.

Tippett ends it. #CBJvsPHI | @TippettOwen pic.twitter.com/FSFKbHdddE

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 12, 2023

With the win, the Flyers are assured of finishing with the NHL’s seventh-worst record. They will have a 6.5% chance to win the draft lottery.

Columbus, thanks to Chicago’s stunning 5-2 win in Pittsburgh, is now the worst team in the NHL. If the Blue Jackets remain there, they will have a 25.5% chance of winning the lottery and drafting generational center Connor Bedard.

Here are five quick takeaways:

1. James van Riemsdyk reaches milestone.

It seemed fitting that James van Riemsdyk, drafted by the Flyers in 2007 (No. 2 overall) and later traded to Toronto,  reached the 300-goal mark with the Orange and Black.

Van Riemsdyk, 33, tied the game at 2-2 when he scored from the right circle with 4:27 left in the first.

“It’s definitely nice to get those milestone numbers, and I think it just means you’ve been playing a long time,” said van Riemsdyk, whose team overcame an early 2-0 deficit.

Less than two minutes after scoring No. 300, van Riemsdyk got into a scuffle with Columbus’ Josh Dunne.

JVR’s Flyers career is expected to end Thursday.

300 biscuits in baskets for @JVReemer21. #CBJvsPHI | #FueledByPhilly pic.twitter.com/rQ5TbnlalS

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 12, 2023

2. Joel Farabee had a strong game.

The 23-year-old left winger shook free for a career-high six shots and got the Flyers within 2-1 with his first-period goal, his 15th tally of the season.

Farabee, who has goals in consecutive games, could have had more shots, but he unselfishly kept trying to set up Travis Konecny for his 30th goal.

With his goal, Farabee now has 39 points, a career best.

3. Adam Ginning’s NHL debut had positives.

Before the game, coach John Tortorella said his reports were good on Ginning, and he was anxious to watch the stay-at-home defenseman.

Ginning had ups and downs.

The Sweden native, recalled from the Phantoms, was paired with veteran Justin Braun. In 16:40 of ice time, Ginning had no shots, two hits and two blocked shots.

Ginning, 23, was called for a ticky-tack holding penalty early in the third period. Midway through the third, he committed a turnover in his own end that nearly allowed Columbus to take the lead.

Rocky Thompson was pleased with Ginning’s performance.

“I think he gave a good account of himself,” said Thompson, an assistant who was behind the bench as the head coach while Tortorella watched from somewhere else in the building.  “It’s not easy coming in with your first game ever. I thought he did some very good things and it was very encouraging, and he blocked a big shot for us at the end.”

4. Home sweet home?

Well, not really.

Though they won their home finale, the Flyers finished with an 18-18-5 record at the ells Fargo Center this season. It’s the eighth time in franchise history that they did not have a winning record at home, but it was improvement from last season (14-21-6).

Power slay goal. #CBJvsPHI | @TippettOwen pic.twitter.com/AJnAV93XZc

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 12, 2023

5. Owen Tippett delivers. Again.

Tippett, 24, showed one of the reasons why his teammates named him the Flyers’ most improved player as he gave the Flyers a 3-2 lead, scoring his 25th goal of the season. He later added his 26th.

Using his speed and strength, the right winger scored the power-play goal after tipping the puck past defenseman Andrew Peeke, and making a power move before beating goalie Michael Hutchinson.

He also made a power move late in overtime and scored by going from his backhand to his forehand.

“This year was a big step for me in realizing my true identity and what kind of player I can be,” Tippett said.

He scored a combined 10 goals, then a career high, with the Flyers and Florida last season.

Breakaways

Van Riemsdyk became the fifth player from the 2007 draft class to reach 300 goals. … Assistant Darryl Williams will coach the season finale Thursday in Chicago. … Ivan Provorov had two assists. … Wade Allison and Nick Deslauriers each had five hits. … Tony DeAngelo was scratched for the fourth straight game. … South Jersey’s Johnny Gaudreau had a game-high seven shots and collected an assist on Kuraly’s goal.

Carter Hart Wins 3 Flyers Awards; Ivan Provorov Named Top D-man