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Flyers are shut out by Bobrovsky and Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Flyers' misery at Nationwide Arena continued Saturday. They played a solid road game, but Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky showed why he is favored to win the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Flyers' misery at Nationwide Arena continued Saturday.

They played a solid road game, but Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky showed why he is favored to win the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender.

Bobrovsky, a former Flyer, made 36 saves as the Blue Jackets defeated the Flyers, 1-0. The Flyers haven't won at Nationwide Arena since 2005, losing 10 straight here.

"We did a lot of good things, but it sounds like the same story every game," captain Claude Giroux said in the Flyers' somber, church-quiet locker room. "We just need to find a way."

The game ended with a wild scramble in front of the net, but Bobrovsky would not be denied. He is now 8-1 in his career against the Flyers, with two shutouts.

The Flyers outshot the Blue Jackets, 36-21.

"We put a lot of shots on net, but nobody cares. We lost the game," right winger Jake Voracek said.

"It was a good team effort," said losing goalie Michal Neuvirth, who played well in his first start in the last eight games. "The only thing, I thought we could have done a better job was in front of their net. We put a lot of pucks on net . . . but when you face the hottest goalie in the league, you've got to be in his face the whole game. I thought we could have done a better job."

The Flyers fell eight points behind Boston for the Eastern Conference's final wild-card spot after the Bruins beat the New York Islanders, 2-1, Saturday night in Brooklyn. The Islanders are six points ahead of the Flyers.

Giroux said the Flyers "for sure" have to win their remaining eight games, including Sunday night in Pittsburgh, to stay in the race.

The Flyers have scored a total of 20 goals in their last 17 losses.

With the Flyers facing a 1-0 deficit, Matt Read, alone in front, redirected Voracek's shot on goal, but Bobrovsky made a right pad save with 14 minutes, 2 seconds left in the third. Read looked up to the rafters.

Bobrovsky, whose post-to-post quickness is his calling card, has that effect on players.

Columbus took a 1-0 lead when Alexander Wennberg tipped in Kyle Quincey's shot with 6:49 remaining in the second period. Before the goal was scored, Wayne Simmonds broke his stick and Andrew MacDonald failed to clear the puck.

"I didn't expect him to tip it in front," Neuvirth said. "Maybe I could have done it differently and gone to my butterfly and I would have had a better chance."

The Flyers had an opportunity to tie as Travis Konecny (five shots) drew a penalty with 4:53 left in the second, but their power play couldn't convert.

The second power-play unit created several chances, but Bobrovsky made four saves while his team was killing a tripping penalty to Seth Jones.

With 7.7 seconds left in the second, the Flyers got their third power play of the game. But the Flyers were hesitant and generated little attack time. Their power play is 3 for 43 (7 percent) in the last 12 games.

"We have to bear down. Sometimes you have to force the puck into the net," Simmonds said.

Columbus ended a two-game losing streak. The Jackets are the only NHL team not to lose three straight this season.

Bobrovsky, 28, entered the game leading the NHL in wins (39), goals-against average (2.02), and save percentage (.932). He is 9-0-2 in his last 11 appearances.

The 2012 trade will forever haunt the Flyers. The Flyers received 2012 draft selections in the second round (goalie Anthony Stolarz) and fourth round (left winger Taylor Leier) for Bobrovsky. They also acquired a fourth-rounder in 2013 that they traded.

"He played well, but he got lucky a lot of times, too," said Voracek, a former Blue Jacket. "A couple times he didn't know where the puck was and he would find a way to get the rebound somehow. But I'd say he's the best goalie in the league."

scarchidi@phillynews.com

@BroadStBull