Panthers Pass By Blue Jackets

     The Florida Panthers drove by the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 on Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena. The Panthers have won three of their last four games. 

     Florida(16-5-4) went out to a 1-0 lead at the 4:59 of the first period. MnacKenzie Weegar fed a lead  pass from his own zone to the red line and Juho Lammikko backhanded the puck from the right-circle dot for his third goal this year. Lammikko scored for the first time in the last 10 games. 

     In the second period, the Panthers expanded their lead to 2-0 at 2:45. Patric Hornqvist was in the crease area and scored a power-play goal for his 10th goal of the season. Aaron Ekblad and Jonathan Huberdeau were credited with assists on the play. 

     Columbus(10-12-5) got on the scoreboard at the 5:45 mark and cut it to 2-1. Michael Del Zotto put in the puck for his second tally this season and first goal since February 11. 

     The Cats added another power-play goal with 1:48 remaining in the second. Gustav Forsling angled a pass from the top of the zone to his right. Owen Tippett snapped a shot from above the top right circle for his second goal of the campaign. Forsling got his first point in a  Panthers uniform. 

     The Blue Jackets scored and trailed 3-2 with 8:22 to go in the third period. Huberdeau had his clearing pass intercepted by Zach Werenski at the left point. His wrist shot was deflected in by Oliver Bjorkstrand from the low slot. 

     Columbus went with an a extra attacker for their power play with 1:45 remaining. It did not work as Carter Verhaeghe put the puck into an empty net with 22.4 seconds left for his ninth goal this year.