Sam Bennett did the heavy lifting Tuesday night, and the Florida Panthers left Nationwide Arena with a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Bennett struck twice, including the game-winner, while Jacob Markstrom turned aside 37 of 38 shots to help Florida control the night despite being outshot 38-28. The Panthers also cashed in on their lone power-play chance, a key edge in a game that tightened briefly before Florida pulled away.
The opening goal came early in the second period when Bennett scored on the power play at 2:00, with Anton Lundell and Seth Jones picking up the assists. Florida stretched the lead to 2-0 at 4:17 of the second when Lars Eller scored. Columbus answered late in the period, as Ivan Provorov cut the deficit to 2-1 at 19:41.
That was as close as the Blue Jackets got. Bennett scored again at 14:29 of the third to restore a two-goal cushion, and Sam Reinhart sealed it with an empty-net goal at 17:44.
Lundell finished with two assists, Aaron Ekblad also had two assists, and Eller and Reinhart each found the net for Florida. Cam Talbot stopped 24 of 27 shots for Columbus.
The result moved the Panthers to 10-7-2 and kept them seventh in the Eastern Conference. Columbus dropped to 7-9-0, sits 15th in the East, and has now lost two straight.
Florida also took the season series 2-0 after winning the first meeting 7-3 on Oct. 13.
Next up, the Panthers host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Blue Jackets return home to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7:00 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Panthers Just Got A Needed Sign On Two Key Veterans
The Panthers got a welcome sight at morning skate in Columbus, with Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand both back on the ice as the club continues to work through its early-season injury picture. For a team that has had to manage its lineup carefully, getting two established veterans back in the mix is the kind of update that can steady things quickly, even if the full return timeline is still being measured day by day.
There is still no firm date attached to either player, but the latest read from the bench suggests Florida is moving in the right direction with both. For a Panthers group trying to stay on track while other teams around the league deal with their own roster issues, having Barkov and Marchand back in skate work is a meaningful sign that help is drawing closer. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Get A Familiar Opponent In A Road Test They Need
The Panthers head into a road matchup with Columbus carrying a familiar comfort level against a Blue Jackets team they have handled well for years. Since the 2019-20 season, Florida has consistently found ways to get results in this matchup, and the timing matters now with the club trying to steady its recent play while navigating the usual wear and tear of an NHL schedule.
Columbus enters with some lineup uncertainty after Sean Monahan and Dmitri Voronkov both left the last game with injuries and are considered day-to-day, adding another layer to a game that already has some roster-watch intrigue on both sides. Paul Maurice and Rick Bowness have both been talking recently about where their teams are at and what they need from their group, so this one carries a little more weight than a routine regular-season meeting. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Are Closing In On A Massive Two-Player Boost
The Panthers are getting closer to a significant lift up front, with head coach Paul Maurice saying Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand are both expected to be back within the next two weeks. For a team that has had to navigate early-season absences from two of its most important forwards, that kind of timeline matters well beyond the standings, because it points to Florida finally getting back some of the lineup structure and experience it has been missing.
Barkovs knee injury arrived early in the season, and he was able to avoid surgery after originally being projected for a six- to eight-week recovery. Marchands situation has been different but just as frustrating, with a lower-body injury surfacing after his off-season surgery and forcing another stretch on the sideline. The Panthers still have to wait for the final return date, but the fact that both veterans are now nearing the finish line gives Florida a chance to reset its forward group sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]