The Play Before the Play: Where Columbus’s Three First-Period Goals Really Started

The Flyers didn’t lose the first period on the three shots that beat Dan Vladar. They lost it 15 to 45 seconds before each one, on plays that never make the highlight package.

Here’s what’s going on

Columbus scored three times in 2:46 of the first period on Tuesday night. Adam Fantilli at 10:58, Kent Johnson on a deflection at 12:54 and Denton Mateychuk at 13:44. The Flyers then outshot the Blue Jackets 28-6 over the last two periods, tied it on Jamie Drysdale’s goal with 11 seconds left and still lost 4-3 in overtime.

That first period is why I’m starting a new series. It’s called The Play Before the Play, and it will cover goals for and against.

Here’s what I’m seeing

Everyone sees the last three seconds before a goal. The shot, the screen, the tip. That’s what gets clipped and that’s what gets argued about. But almost every time, something happens 15 to 45 seconds earlier that sets the whole thing in motion. Usually it’s something simple, like not breaking the puck out when you have the chance.

So I went back through all three goals and stopped the film where each goal actually started, not where it ended.

Watch it on YouTube and subscribe to Broad St Breakout so you don’t miss the next episode.

Clip 1 (0:00): Kent Johnson’s deflection, Columbus’s second goal

Everyone sees Oliver Bonk fumble the puck. But none of that happens if Travis Sanheim just puts the breakout pass right on Trevor Zegras’s stick. This was an easy one. Break the puck out when you have the chance and this goal never happens.

Clip 2 (1:00): Adam Fantilli at 4-on-4, Columbus’s first goal

I’d like to see Zegras hold onto this one longer, until he has a clearer lane to get the puck to Sanheim.

Clip 3 (2:05): Denton Mateychuk, Columbus’s third goal

Jamie Drysdale shoulder checks to his right but not to his left. If he looks left, he sees how low Matvei Michkov is, and he can leave that puck in the corner instead of hard-wrapping it. There are other battles we lose on this shift. But throwing the puck away is the main issue here.

The overtime winner fits the same pattern. Johnson scored on a 2-on-0 after he poked the puck away from Cam York at the Columbus net, according to NHL.com. One puck that doesn’t get out, and the game is over.

Here’s what I’d like to see moving forward

Clean exits on the first chance. The last 40 minutes on Tuesday showed this team can push a game when it has the puck. The fix for a night like this isn’t the goalie or the shot that went in. It’s winning the 15 seconds before it. Get the puck out the first time, and a lot of these never happen.

This is episode one. Watch the breakdown above, subscribe on YouTube, and tell me which goal you want me to go through next on X @BroadStBreakout or Instagram @broadstbreakout.