The Flyers struggled offensively and missed out on a big opportunity with a 2-1 shootout loss Saturday night to the Blue Jackets at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Kirill Marchenko won it for Columbus as the game’s lone scorer in the shootout.

Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny couldn’t deliver in the skills competition.

Alex Bump scored the Flyers’ regulation goal.

With a golden chance to take the lead, the Flyers came up empty on a four-minute power play, which carried over from the second period into the third.

“Sluggish group tonight, we didn’t have our A game,” Rick Tocchet said. … “A lot of hockey lately, late nights, I don’t know. But getting a point with our B game, you’ve got to take the positive out of it.”

The Flyers (31-23-12) failed to build off its sweep of a back-to-back set, which was punctuated by a 3-2 shootout win Thursday night on the road over the Wild.

This was their 23rd overtime of the season. They dropped to 8-4 in the shootout.

“There are moments where you’ve got to make a play, we’re lacking that sometimes in those moments,” Tocchet said. “But the good thing is we’re hanging in games. You’ve got to give the guys credit.”

Tocchet’s club has lost three of its last four home games. The losses have felt like momentum killers.

The Flyers dropped to five points back of the Blue Jackets (34-21-11), a team that’s also trying to chase down a playoff berth.

Jamie Drysdale and Rick Tocchet spoke on the Flyers’ power play struggles in their loss to the Blue Jackets and this season as a whole.

• After a busy Saturday around the NHL, the Flyers fell to six points back of the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot. They entered the day five points back.

They’ve made it interesting with at least a point in seven of their last nine games (6-2-1). They have 16 games to go.

“I think every guy in the room is one-track minded still on getting in,” Jamie Drysdale said. “There are no ifs, ands or buts. Was this an important game to get two points? Absolutely. In saying that, we’re not out until we’re out, so I think this team can kind of build off that and that’s kind of our attitude. I know for a fact that’s how everyone in the room feels.”

• Dan Vladar did his job again, denying 27 of 28 shots.

In the first period, Marchenko scored six seconds after Vladar made a string of three saves, which had him sprawling in his crease.

But the 28-year-old was his reliable self and converted a number of timely saves. Can’t fault him at all.

“He has been unreal,” Denver Barkey said. “I’ll say it once, I’ll say it again, he’s our backbone. He’s positive, he has got all the energy, he’s awesome and he has been great for us.”

Columbus netminder Jet Greaves stopped 18 of the Flyers’ 19 shots.

• Bump continued to impress with his second goal and third point through five games since being called up for his NHL debut.

The 22-year-old winger deflected home an Emil Andrae shot to tie the game at 1-1 in the first period.

Three days ago, Tocchet was effusive in his praise for Bump’s ability to shoot the puck. The rookie really hasn’t given the Flyers any reasons to send him back down.

On Bump’s goal, Christian Dvorak recorded a secondary assist, giving him a career-high 39 points.

Alex Bump’s deflection was his first goal at home as a Flyer and tied up their game against the Blue Jackets.

• Barkey had an injury scare with 5:47 minutes left in the first period when he had to exit after being boarded by Marchenko.

But the 20-year-old rookie returned around the beginning of the second period.

Barkey was slow to get up after the hit, with his face in his hands while being down on the ice. But he was eventually able to skate off under his own power.

The undersized winger showed toughness during the middle stanza when he took some whacks while battling in the slot. He ended up drawing two penalties, but the Flyers couldn’t capitalize on the long power play.

“He was like that in London, he’s a fireball, he’s not scared to go in the corners, the size doesn’t matter,” Tocchet said. “Great effort, great effort from the kid.”

• Egor Zamula was back in town for the first time since being traded on New Year’s Eve.

After the Flyers dealt him to the Penguins, his contract was terminated, allowing him to sign with the Blue Jackets.

The 25-year-old defenseman has been in and out of the lineup for Columbus. He played his 15th game Saturday night and saw limited minutes.

A fist bump between Egor Zamula and Matvei Michkov.

Zamula was a guy who helped Michkov make the transition to North America. Zamula is now with the Blue Jackets. pic.twitter.com/gWchnaEJvl

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) March 14, 2026

• The Flyers open a three-game California road trip Wednesday when they visit the Ducks (10 p.m. ET/NBCSP).