After a frustrating loss in Buffalo on Saturday night, the Blue Jackets whiffed on an opportunity to overtake Pittsburgh both in the Metropolitan Division and the overall NHL standings, mostly due to their own lack of discipline.
Tonight, against the Flyers, the Jackets needed to keep their heads, play with discipline, and ideally get out to an early lead.
Well, they managed one of those.
Sam Gagner continued his recent hot streak, helping to keep play alive in the offensive zone with an excellent possession shift midway through the first period, then stepping into a rebound off Steve Mason that had come into the open ice, hammering it into the top corner to open the scoring.