The Florida Panthers (32-29-3) will look to extend its winning streak to three when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets (33-21-10) tonight at Amerant Bank Arena in the final meeting of the season between the two clubs.
Carter Verhaeghe’s late brace lifted the Panthers to a shocking 4-3 home ice victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. Matthew Tkachuk set up both of Verhaeghe’s goals; newcomer Vinnie Hinostroza had a goal and an assist; Niko Mikkola also scored; and goaltender Daniil Tarasov stopped 25 shots to post his career-high ninth win.
The Blue Jackets come into the tilt riding a seven-game (4-0-3) point streak. After overtime losses at home to Utah and Los Angeles, Columbus opened a three-game road trip with a convincing 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. Deadline day acquistion Conor Garland scored twice and Ivan Provorov, Kirill Marchenko and Dante Fabbro also lit the lamp. Garland has potted four goals in the last two games.
- WHEN: 7 p.m. ET
- WHERE: Amerant Bank Arena – Sunrise, FL
- ON THE TUBE: Scripps, FDSNOH
- ON THE DIAL: 560 WQAM (D/B), 106.3 West Palm (PB), Thunder 100.3 (Keys)
- SOCIALS: #TimeToHunt, #CBJ, #CBJvsFLA, @LitterBoxCats, LBC FaceBook
- ENEMY INTEL: The Cannon
- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 3 of 3 (1-1)
- LAST MEETING: @CBJ 4, FLA 2 (Recap) – 3/4/2026
- NEXT MEETING: That’s all, folks!
- PROJECTED STARTERS: Florida: Bobrovsky (23-19-1 .876 / 3.08 3SO) Columbus: Merzlikins (13-9-2 .884 / 3.46 1SO)
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / Columbus
Thursday in the Atlantic (Standings/Panthers Playoff Chances)
- TORONTO (27-27-11 65P) at New York Rangers (26-30-8 60P) 7 p.m.
- BUFFALO (40-19-6 86P) at Pittsburgh (32-17-15 79P) 7 p.m.
- BOSTON (36-22-6 78P) at Nashville (29-27-8 66P) 8 p.m.
- TAMPA BAY (39-20-4 82P) at Winnipeg (26-27-10 62P) 8 p.m.
- OTTAWA (32-23-9 73P) at Calgary (25-32-7 57P) 9 p.m.
Idle: MON (82P), DET (79P)