Ivan Provorov had a goal with two assists and Mathieu Olivier scored twice as the host Columbus Blue Jackets won their third straight, 4-2 over the scuffling Florida Panthers on Thursday night.
Boone Jenner also scored and Jet Greaves made 26 saves for the Blue Jackets, who are 14-2-1 since Jan. 11 and just outside of playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Columbus, undefeated while star Zach Werenski has missed the last three games due to illness, snapped a 0-6-3 slide versus Florida, but nearly coughed up a 3-0 lead.
The Panthers finally got on the board with 10:52 remaining in the third period. Off a shot just inside the left end of the blue line from Aaron Ekblad, a well-positioned Niko Mikkola got enough of the puck for it to redirect past Greaves and in.
Then, via a two-man advantage with the goaltender pulled, the Panthers peppered Greaves, and Sam Bennett was able to convert with 5:16 left in regulation to make it a one-goal game.
With 2:55 to play, it appeared Florida tied the contest on a Gustav Forsling tally, but Columbus challenged and the goal was waived off upon review for goaltender interference.
Olivier added an empty-netter to seal Columbus’s first win over Florida since Nov. 20, 2022.
Daniil Tarasov made 24 saves for the Panthers, whose playoff hopes continue to fade after a fourth straight defeat amid their 2-9-0 rut.
Columbus opened the scoring 5:08 into the contest. On the game’s first power play, Provorov drove the puck through some traffic in the slot and past a somewhat screened Tarasov.
The Blue Jackets made it 2-0 with 9:10 remaining in the second period. They managed to keep the puck in Florida’s zone, then Egor Zamula sent the puck toward the net from near the left point and it glanced in off Olivier.
Columbus extended its lead just 1:41 into the third. Off a stellar behind-the-end-line pass from Kent Johnson, Jenner, open in the slot, sent a laser by Tarasov in his return from missing the previous contest with a lower-body injury.
