Columbus right winger Cam Atkinson continued his strong play against Philadelphia, scoring twice as the host Blue Jackets beat the Flyers 6-3 on Thursday.

Atkinson netted both of his goals in the second period to spark Columbus, which struck three times in a seven-minute span to take control of the Metropolitan Division contest.

Last March 18, Atkinson posted his fourth career hat trick against Philadelphia.

Anthony Duclair, Nick Foligno, Josh Anderson and Sonny Milano also scored goals for the Blue Jackets, who improved to 12-3-1 in their past 16 games against the Flyers.

Columbus' Artemi Panarin had two assists, and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky recorded 32 saves in lifting his record to 11-3-1 against his former team.

Travis Konecny, Sean Couturier and Oskar Lindblom scored goals, Claude Giroux dished out two assists, and goalie Calvin Pickard made 22 saves for Philadelphia.

Columbus and Bobrovsky opened a three-game homestand looking to get past an 8-2 loss at Tampa Bay on Saturday -- a game in which the two-time Vezina Trophy winner was rocked for all eight tallies.

For the first time in seven games, the Flyers got on the board first, scoring on a deflection at 10:06 into the game. Robert Hagg's shot from the left circle was tipped in by Konecny on the team's 10th shot for a 1-0 lead. It was Konecny's first goal of the season.

Duclair tied it 1-1 with a spectacular play at 17:53 of the opening period. The left winger took a long pass from Ryan Murray, was tripped by Hagg as he cut through the right circle, fell to the ice and collected the puck as he got back to his feet. He then slipped his second goal past Pickard.

The Flyers took a 2-1 lead at 19:50 of the first when Couturier flipped a shot from above the left circle that beat Bobrovsky. The top-line center notched his third goal.

Panarin sent a diagonal cross-ice pass that Atkinson tapped in at 1:34 of the second period, and Atkinson scored again three minutes later when he got behind Hagg and beat Pickard in tight for his fourth goal. Foligno scored his third goal at 8:34 of the middle period for a 4-2 lead.

Lindblom got Philadelphia within a goal at 1:07 of the third period, but Anderson's unassisted tally made it 5-3 at 15:12. Milano capped the scoring at 17:48.

--Field Level Media