(Sports Network) - The Columbus Blue Jackets begin life under new head coach Ken Hitchcock today when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers, Hitchcock's former team, at the Wachovia Center.

It was only a little over a month ago, on October 22, when Hitchcock was fired by Philadelphia after a brutal start to the season. But the 1999 Stanley Cup winner landed on his feet in Ohio on Wednesday, as the Jackets announced his hiring shortly before a home contest against St. Louis.

Columbus fired former boss Gerard Gallant on November 13, and assistant Gary Agnew has been the coach on an interim basis for the past five games.

Hitchcock takes over a club in need of a spark, as the Blue Jackets have lost their last seven games. On Wednesday they dropped a 4-3 shootout tilt to the Blues, as Bill Guerin netted the only goal in the shootout to lift St. Louis.

Nikolai Zherdev tallied a goal and an assist for Columbus, and Rostislav Klesla and Fredrik Modin also scored for the Blue Jackets. Goaltender Pascal Leclaire stopped 35 of 38 shots.

Columbus has the NHL's worst record with 12 points. Philadelphia is second from the bottom with 13.

The Blue Jackets, who are 2-6-0 on the road, will host Minnesota on Saturday.

Philly, meanwhile, has lost three straight games since its first winning streak of the season. On Wednesday the Flyers dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to visiting Ottawa, as Wade Redden potted the game-winner with 20.6 seconds left in the extra session.

Petr Nedved and Mike Knuble each had a goal while Antero Niittymaki made 32 stops for the Flyers, who have dropped nine of their last 11 games overall.

Philadelphia was without captain Peter Forsberg, who missed the game with a stiff lower back. He is day-to-day.

The Flyers, who are 2-6-3 at home, will visit Montreal on Saturday.

Philadelphia topped Columbus last December in Ohio and is 3-0-3 (3 ties) in the last six meetings.