Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen speaks after Florida's 4-3 win in Columbus on Oct. 15. The Florida Panthers are heading home with a couple of well-earned victories in their pocket. Coming off a physically demanding but ultimately satisfying win over the Boston Bruins on Monday afternoon, the shorthanded Panthers flew south for what promised to be an emotionally challenging game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Tuesday was Columbus’ home opener and instead of treating it as a celebration of the new season, the Blue Jackets dedicated the night to the memory of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, who were both tragically killed by a drunk driver while riding their bicycles during the offseason. While the game was ultimately played, few would argue that the result wasn’t secondary to the larger message of the night. Still, the game had to be played. Here are the takeaways from Tuesday in Columbus: TOUGH NIGHT TO PLAY HOCKEY Both the Panthers and Blue Jackets wore No. 13 Gaudreau jerseys during warmups. At the start of the game, Columbus only took the ice with four players, leaving the left wing spot empty, for Gaudreau. When the opening puck was dropped, both teams just stood there, allowing 13 seconds to come off the clock before it was stopped, another tribute to Gaudreau’s No. 13. Eventually, the players were asked to shift their focus back to hockey. No easy task on a night like this, which was one of the most unique in league history. “For our sport to be right, you've got to be right wired in, right?” Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said. “It's so hard to play that game if you weren’t 100% focused, with all the speed of it, the chaos of it, the physicality of it. I think both teams, there were four hits aside after one. I don't think either team cheated the game, don't get me wrong. It was a very difficult game for our team to play, and theirs. They did the right thing, they played as hard as they could.” KNIGHT STANDS TALL After a rough season debut on Saturday in Buffalo, Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight had a much better showing against the Blue Jackets. He finished the game with 35 saves, including 29 in the final two periods. Knight stopped seven of the nine high danger shots he faced, two of which came during the game’s final minutes. It was a great bounce-back game for Knight, who is looking for reestablish himself as a regular NHL goaltender and Florida’s goalie of the future. “I think he was just better (than his last start). It's a long time, a year off, and he had a very good preseason. He played exceptionally well against Tampa. We weren't very good against Buffalo, and he'd want a couple of those back. So this is a huge game for him, because we didn't have much in the tank. They've got some firepower there. They can make some plays, for sure. So our goaltender was the key piece for us tonight, and we needed him to be. It was going to look like that. So Spencer was great, and for our end, that was the difference in the game.” Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] LOVING THE LUNDELL LINE We’ve known for the past few seasons that the combination of Anton Lundell centering Eetu Luostarinen and Sam Reinhart is a line that works. It’s a unit that that can be counted on in any situation, and the trio’s chemistry is off the charts. The continued maturation of Lundell and Luostarinen combined with Reinhart’s elite scoring ability has brought them to the level that we’ve seen this time around. Between Monday and Tuesday in Boston and Columbus, the line combined for seven goals and 10 points, a plus-14 rating and 12 shots on goal. “It's funny, because you'd love to just play them (all the time), right?” Maurice said. “Except (Reinhart) scored 56 goals with the other guy (Barkov), so that's not too bad, but man, the three of them are so good together.” LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Panthers earn tough victory in Columbus on night dedicated to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-earn-tough-victory-in-columbus-on-night-dedicated-to-johnny-and-matthew-gaudreau] Three takeaways: Gutsy win in Boston led by familiar 'security blanket' forward line [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/three-takeaways-gutsy-win-in-boston-led-by-familiar-security-blanket-forward-line] Panthers wrap up road trip in Columbus on night honoring Johnny, Matthew Gaudreau [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-wrap-up-road-trip-in-columbus-on-night-honoring-johnny-matthew-gaudreau] Lundell, Reinhart come up big as Panthers win again in Boston [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/lundell-reinhart-come-up-big-as-panthers-win-again-in-boston] Matthew Tkachuk expected to miss next 4 Panthers game due to illness [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/matthew-takchuk-expected-to-miss-next-4-panthers-game-due-to-illness] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
