The Columbus Blue Jackets remain in the race for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference after defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3–0 on the road. Late in the third period, 20-year-old Adam Fantilli sealed the game with his 30th goal of the season. After the game, the young star grew emotional while talking about his goal.
The race for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference is as tight as it gets after 81 regular season games. The Montreal Canadiens currently hold the last wild card spot with 89 points, closely followed by the Columbus Blue Jackets with 87. This means the Canadiens need at least one point in their final game against the Carolina Hurricanes to clinch a playoff berth. Should they lose, the Blue Jackets can leapfrog them with a win over the already-eliminated New York Islanders.
Adam Fantilli opens up about grandfather
In recent days, emerging Blue Jackets star Adam Fantilli – drafted third overall in 2023 – missed a few team activities to attend his grandfather’s funeral in Canada. He returned in time to help the Blue Jackets secure a crucial 3–0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, scoring his 30th goal of the season. In a post-game interview, Fantilli credited the goal to his grandfather.
“Yesterday, I flew back to Toronto and buried my grandfather. His favorite team was Philly. That’s going to sound like I’m joking when I say that, but I swear his favorite team was Philly. Coming back, I’m pretty sure that one was for him—just giving me a lucky bounce there,” Fantilli told reporters.
At just 20 years old, Adam Fantilli became the second-youngest player in Blue Jackets history to score 30 goals in a season, behind only Rick Nash’s 41-goal campaign in 2003–04 as a 19-year-old.
See his interview in the video below.
