Jamey Baskow says the Flyers' trip to face the Blue Jackets tonight feels deflating, with everything going on this week.
He didn't hold back on how the mood around the team feels heading into Saturday. Philadelphia is at Columbus tonight, and Baskow wrote that it doesn't really feel like the Flyers are playing at all.
Baskow also pointed to Monday as the day he's watching.
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He didn't say what's happening, and nothing in his post spells it out. What is known is that the Flyers arrive in Ohio after losing 3-2 in overtime at Edmonton on Wednesday, their latest result.
Rick Tocchet's team sits 28th in the NHL at 5-10-6. That's 16 points through 21 games, and the road has been the problem: 2-6-3 away from home.
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | DIFF | |
| 1. Carolina Hurricanes | 20 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 32 | +36 |
| 2. New Jersey Devils | 20 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 28 | +16 |
| 3. New York Rangers | 21 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 25 | +7 |
| 4. Washington Capitals | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| 5. New York Islanders | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 20 | 0 |
| 6. Pittsburgh Penguins | 19 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 16 | -6 |
| 7. Philadelphia Flyers | 21 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 16 | -22 |
| 8. Columbus Blue Jackets | 17 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 14 | -12 |
The opponent isn't in much better shape. The Blue Jackets are 29th at 7-10-0 and have lost three straight, the latest a 1-3 home loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday.
Why Saturday is a tough night for Philadelphia
Columbus has been far better at Nationwide Arena than anywhere else, going 6-5-0 at home against 1-5-0 on the road. Philadelphia's road record is the weaker of the two, and that tilts tonight toward the home side.
The goal numbers point the same way. The Flyers have allowed 69 goals and carry a -22 differential, while Rick Bowness's group is at -12 with 54 against.
Still, two teams in this spot rarely play a clean game. The Blue Jackets are chasing an end to their slide, and the Flyers are trying to play through a week that, by Baskow's account, has dulled the mood around them.
That's a hard night to be the visitor. A team with a 2-6-3 road mark and a locker room that may be distracted gives Columbus a real opening to snap its streak.
Baskow's focus is on Monday, and the Flyers will have a game result to carry into it first.
This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
Who takes the points in Flyers at Blue Jackets tonight?
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