Florida has gone 3-0-1 over a modest four-game points streak, outscoring their opponents 14-3
The Florida Panthers picked up a resounding win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night as they continue to march toward the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Florida controlled the game from start to finish and left the rink with a solid 4-0 victory.
Matthew Tkachuk got the Panthers off to a strong start when his quick wrist shot beat Columbus goaltender Jet Greaves over the blocker just 47 seconds into the game.
Florida continued to put the pressure on the young tendy, but Greaves stood tall and kept the Panthers from extending their lead as the game moved into the second period.
Not bad for a guy playing in just his eighth game in the NHL.
Things would remain tight until the latter stages of the middle frame.
A great effort play by Evan Rodrigues would be rewarded when Anton Lundell sent a pass to the top of the crease that Rodrigues poked behind Greaves and into the yawning cage to make it 2-0 Florida.
Just 1:41 later, some great offensive zone work by Panthers captain Sasha Barkov led to him finding Sam Reinhart in prime scoring position at the bottom of the right faceoff circle.
Reinhart’s 54th goal of the season gave Florida a commanding 3-0 lead heading into the final frame.
Vladimir Tarasenko showed off some slick hands in scoring his sixth goal since joining the Panthers, sending a backhand past Greaves while being checked at the top of the Columbus goal crease.
That would be more than enough for the Cats to pick up two points on Thursday.
Two games left.
On to Buffalo.
Here are some thoughts and observations from Thursday’s battle with the Blue Jackets:
Sergei Bobrovsky made 25 saves for his sixth shutout this season. He had five shutouts combined over his first four seasons with Florida.
Tkachuk’s goal was his third over the past four games.
After going the entire month of February without a point, Oliver Ekman-Larsson has seven assists in the 19 games since. He had a pair of helpers Thursday.
Tarasenko is up to two goals and seven points in Florida’s six games played this month.
Reinhart, meanwhile, has scored in three of the six April games he’s played.
Lundell is up to three goals and five points over his past five games. Not bad considering he had just five points in a 19-game span that went from late February to the beginning of April.
The Panthers honored original play-by-play voice Jeff Rimer during the first period. Rimer, who has called Columbus games since leaving Florida in 2004, will retire at the end of the season.
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