Thursday, February 24, 2022

Blue Jackets Shock Panthers

     The Columbus Blue Jackets surprised the Florida Panthers 6-3 on Thursday night at FLA Live Arena. The Panthers have been defeated in two straight contests at home following a nine-game home winning streak.
     The Cats had lost just three of their first 26 home games to begin the 2021-22 regular season. Florida Panthers goalie Jonas Johansson made his team debut in net. 
     The Blue Jackets are now 7-1-0 in February and have won nine of their last 11 games. Patrik Laine has compiled 13 goals in the last 11 contests. 
     Florida(35-12-5) broke out to a 1-0 lead at the 8:33 mark. MacKenzie Weegar collected his sixth goal of the campaign on assists from Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe. 
     Columbus(27-23-1) tied it 1-1 with 4:55 remaining in the first. Jakub Voracek carried the puck through the neutral zone and fed a cross-ice pass from the left wing. Laine scored on a wrist shot from the low slot past Jonas Johansson for his third goal in the last two games and 19th overall this season. He extended his point streak up to 11 games. 
     In the second period, the Blue Jackets moved ahead 2-1 at 9:32. Vladislav Gavrikov fired a slap shot from the left point and Boone Jenner redirected it in from the low left circle for his 22nd goal of the season. 
     The Panthers were outscored 3-1 in the first 9:57 of the third period and trailed 5-2. Jonathan Huberdeau cut it to 3-2 at the 6:52 mark of the third as he scored his 18th goal this season. Columbus followed with two goals in a 10-second span. 

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