Blue Jackets rally past Flyers 3-2 in shootout for fifth straight win

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko scored in the shootout as the Columbus Blue Jackets rallied to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Zach Werenski scored twice for Columbus, including the game-tying goal with 4:37 remaining in regulation. The Blue Jackets earned their first win against Philadelphia in three matchups this season.

Daniil Tarasov made 23 saves, helping the Blue Jackets earn a season-high fifth straight victory, their longest streak since the 2019-20 season.

Bobby Brink and Owen Tippett scored for Philadelphia, while Ivan Fedotov stopped 27 shots. The Flyers saw their two-game win streak snapped.

Flyers: Philadelphia showed resilience despite playing the second half of a back-to-back. They maintained their physicality and led twice but couldn’t finish.

Blue Jackets: Columbus struggled with consistency early in the game but found its footing late. A determined third period, strong overtime, and a near-flawless shootout sealed the victory.

After a scoreless overtime, Johnson and Marchenko scored in the shootout for Columbus, while Tarasov denied both Flyers attempts.

Werenski’s two goals brought his season total to 15. He has 50 points — the most by any defenseman this season. He is also the seventh defenseman in NHL history to record a 17-game home point streak.

Both teams return to action Thursday. The Flyers visit the New York Islanders, while the Blue Jackets host the San Jose Sharks.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Philadelphia Flyers right wing Bobby Brink (10) is congratulated by teammates after scoring in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov (82) reaches to cover the puck next to Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Dmitri Voronkov (10) in the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) is congratulated by teammates after scoring in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Philadelphia Flyers center Scott Laughton (21) reaches for the puck in front of Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Daniil Tarasov, left, and defenseman Denton Mateychuk, right, in the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Columbus Blue Jackets' Cole Sillinger (4) shoots as Philadelphia Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen (55) defends in the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, second from left, scores on Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40) blocks a shot in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

ADELBODEN, Switzerland (AP) — The big surprise of the World Cup slalom season scored his second win Sunday adding to his fast-rising reputation before the Winter Olympics.

Paco Rassat raced to the fastest time in the second run to rise from fourth place, and push two Norwegians down the podium steps after they had been fastest in the morning run.

United States-born Atle Lie McGrath was edged out by 0.18 seconds and first-run leader Henrik Kristoffersen dropped to third, trailing 0.20 behind Rassat.

The 27-year-old Frenchman had a career-best result of ninth in World Cup races before this Olympic season started.

Rassat now has two wins, a third place and two sixth places this season and shapes as a medal contender for the Milano Cortina Olympics. The men’s slalom is on Feb. 16 at Bormio.

“To win on this crazy hill at Adelboden, It’s something really unbelievable," Rassat told Swiss broadcaster RTS, describing his season as “a magnificent surprise.”

Rassat also took the lead in the seasonlong World Cup slalom standings, ahead of his France teammate Clément Noël, the defending Olympic champion. Noël tied for eighth Sunday.

McGrath was runner-up in the Adelboden slalom for the third time in four years.

“It’s kind of crazy,” said McGrath, whose father Felix skied for the U.S. at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. “I’m of course super happy, it’s such a challenging slope and mentally it’s one of the toughest places to perform because of this amazing crowd.”

Another packed finish-area crowd at Adelboden observed a minute’s silence before racing for the victims of the fatal fire in a bar in nearby Crans-Montana on New Year’s Day. Crans-Montana hosts men’s and women’s World Cup races in three weeks’ time.

The World Cup overall standings leader, four-time title holder Marco Odermatt, does not ski slalom and his huge lead was cut a little by Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who placed fourth. Pinheiro Braathen was second to Odermatt in the classic giant slalom Saturday.

The men’s World Cup circuit stays in central Switzerland for the storied Lauberhorn meeting at Wengen, for a super-G on Friday, the classic downhill Saturday and a slalom Sunday.

AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath reacts at the finish line during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen reacts at the finish line during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

France's Paco Rassat speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)

France's Paco Rassat reacts at the finish line during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Finland's Eduard Hallberg speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen ahead of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)