Aleksander Barkov scored the game-winning goal and added two assists and Sam Reinhart assisted on a career-high four goals in the Florida Panthers 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in matinee action from Nationwide Arena.
The Panthers got off to a fast start, with Gustav Forsling opening the scoring 42 seconds into the game. Reinhart centered to Barkov while taking a hit below the goal line and the captain dished off to Forsling, who snapped a shot past Jet Greaves.
Columbus countered at 7:06 with Yegor Chinakhov beating Anthony Stolarz with a wrist shot after taking a return pass from Kirill Marchenko on a rush up ice. The secondary assist went to former Panther Erik Gudbranson. More on him later.
It only took Florida 22 seconds to retake the lead on Carter Verhaeghe’s deflection goal. Barkov passed back to Forsling, who crossed to Reinhart, and he let go of a shot that Verhaeghe was able to tip down and in for his 200th NHL point.
After a boarding penalty on Nick Cousins early in the third, an incensed Gudbranson attacked and pummeled Cousins at the 6:49 mark, giving the Cats a seven-minute power play.
It took the Panthers 6:24 and double-digit shots to finally cash in on the extended opportunity. Matthew Tkachuk passed down low to Reinhart and his behind-the-back backhand struck Greaves before a diving Sam Bennett pushed the loose puck to Barkov for the put-away.
Down two, the Blue Jackets pulled Greaves early and crept back within a goal when Dmitri Voronkov muscled in Patrik Laine’s hot pass into the crease with the secondary assist going to Zach Werenski, his 20th helper of the season.
The Panthers salted the game away with long-range empty-netters from Matthew Tkachuck, assisted by Niko Mikkola, and Eetu Luostarinen, assisted by Barkov and Reinhart, to collect their 17th win of the campaign and improve to 8-4-2 on the road.
Florida will head to the left coast to take on the struggling Seattle Kraken on Tuesday.
Cuffs & Buttons
- With four helpers, Sam Reinhart became the first Panther to hit 20 assists this season. Reinhart’s team-leading 37 points have him tied for fifth in the league in scoring.
- Milestone man Carter Verhaeghe has amassed seven points (four goals, three assists) during a five-game point streak. Reinhart also has points in five straight games.
- Both goaltenders had strong starts. Anthony Stolarz stopped 18 of 19 shots to up his record to 4-2-1. Rookie Jet Greaves finished with 31 saves in his third NHL start.
- Erik Gudbranson racked up 29 PIM while registering an assist, two blocks and two hits in 13:38 time on ice.
- Brandon Montour was credited with a game-high six shots and a block while playing a team-high 23:41.
- Florida is 13-2-2 in its last 17 games against the Blue Jackets. The Cannon has the sadder of yesterday’s edition.