Panthers Blank Blue Jackets

     The Florida Panthers shut out the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 on Thursday night at Amerant Bank Arena. Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky collected his second shutout in the past three games and 48th shutout of his NHL career. 

     The Panthers are now victorious in 10 of their last 12 games. The Blue Jackets played their first NHL outdoor game back on Saturday in Columbus. 

     Florida(39-21-3) jumped out to a 1-0 advantage at the 5:58 mark of the first period. Aaron Ekblad angled a pass from the top of the zone and Aleksander Barkov pushed it from the top right circle. Sam Reinhart snapped a shot from the inner right circle past Elvis Merzlikins for his 32nd goal of the season. It was Reinhart's 153rd goal with the Panthers which is fifth all-time in franchise history. 

     In the second period, the Panthers scored again on the power play at 6:33. Reinhart dropped off a pass from above the right circle. Barkov took a shot from the top of the zone and it was saved. Mackie Samoskevich placed in a wrist shot on the rebound from the left side of the crease for his 11th goal this year. 

     Columbus(30-24-8) pulled their goalie for an extra attacker late in the third period. The Cats responded with 2:12 left in the third on an empty-net goal by Barkov from above the left circle for his third point of the game and 17th tally of the campaign. Reinhart also chalked up his third point of the contest with an assist on the play.