National Hockey League
Columbus 7, Florida 3
When: 7:30 PM ET, Thursday, November 2, 2017
Where: BB&T Center, Sunrise, Florida
Referees: Gord Dwyer, Jean Hebert
Linesmen: Darren Gibbs, Jonny Murray
Attendance: 9311

SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Florida Panthers' defense has once again sprung a leak, and even the Columbus Blue Jackets power play -- which entered Thursday's game as the worst in the NHL -- was able to take advantage.

Columbus, which had converted just 3-of-35 power-play opportunities (8.6 percent) entering this game, was successful on 2-of-5 chances with the man advantage against Florida.

Overall, Josh Anderson and Oliver Bjorkstrand scored twice each to lead Columbus to a 7-3 win over Florida on Thursday night at the BB&T Center.

Bjorkstrand and Boone Jenner scored once each with the man advantage.

"Our power play has been struggling lately," said Anderson, who has five goals this season -- one more than Bjorkstrand. "This was nice."

Columbus (9-4-0) also got two assists each from Jenner and Matt Calvert.

The Panthers (4-7-1) lost their third straight game despite one goal and two assists by second-line center Vincent Trocheck.

Defensively, the Panthers have allowed 15 goals in the past two games, and their penalty kill has given up 14 power-play scores in 12 games, the worst percentage in the league.

Jackets coach John Tortorella said his team played "direct," straight-line hockey.

"That was the most we've played under the hash marks all season," Tortorella said. "You guys will (still) ask (about the power play), but it was good to get a couple."

Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who entered the game ranked fifth in the league with a 1.97 goals-against average, wasn't great but made 31 saves and improved to 8-2-0.

Meanwhile, Florida goalie James Reimer was pulled for the second straight game, stopping just 15 of 19 shots. Antti Niemi replaced him and stopped 18 of 21 shots.

"Stats don't lie -- I think he's fighting it a little bit," Panthers coach Bob Boughner said when asked about Reimer. "We have to tighten up and support him as best as we can.

"We win as a team, and we lose as a team. We're not going to finger-point at anybody."

Florida opened the scoring with 4:57 elapsed in the first period as Trocheck used his speed to drive to the net. His shot was stopped, but Mark Pysyk put in the rebound.

But Columbus closed the first period with two consecutive goals. Brandon Dubinsky skated behind the net and found Anderson, who roofed the puck over Reimer's stick. Then, Anderson, working from the slot, made it 2-1 when he took a pass from Markus Nutivaara and beat Reimer with a wicked wrist shot.

Columbus scored three of the five goals in the second period.

Florida tied the score just 35 seconds into the second as Trocheck stole the puck and got it to Radim Vrbata before rookie defenseman Ian McCoshen scored on a long shot from the point.

Columbus went up 3-2 less than five minutes later. Markus Hannikainen got to a rebound and scored on a backhander that eluded the clearing attempts by Pysyk and Aleksander Barkov.

For Hannikainen it was his first goal this season and the second of his 19-game career.

Florida tied the score 3-3 with 8:43 left in the second as Trocheck scored short-handed. Trocheck mostly whiffed on his shot, but it fooled Bobrovsky, trickling by him five-hole.

Reimer was pulled just 28 seconds later after Bjorkstrand whistled a shot over the goalie's glove. And Bjorkstrand scored two minutes later, losing Panthers defenseman McCoshen after a battle along the left boards and then walking in on Niemi.

In the third, Tyler Motte pounced on a loose puck to make it 6-3, and Jenner scored on a power-play deflection to give Columbus a 7-3 advantage.

Jenner's goal, off an Artemi Panarin shot, closed the scoring on another brutal night for Florida's defense.

The Panthers had a players-only meeting after Monday's 8-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. And after yet another rout, the frustration is obvious.

"It's not for a lack of trying," Panthers captain Derek MacKenzie said. "We're trying to tighten up our own zone. Our coaches are giving us a great game plan, but we haven't been able to execute."

NOTES: It was Military Appreciation Night at the BB&T Center, and the Panthers wore camouflage uniforms for warm-ups. ... Columbus was without RW Cam Atkinson (lower-body injury) for the second straight game. ... Columbus D Gabriel Carlsson hasn't played since Oct. 13, but he is believed to be near a return. On Tuesday, he practiced for the first time since his injury. ... Florida has four injured players, including G Roberto Luongo, who played just four games before being sidelined due to a right thumb injury. He hasn't played since Oct. 20 and will miss at least one more week. ... The Panthers are also missing LW Connor Brickley, LW Jared McCann and RW Colton Sceviour.
Top Game Performances
 
Columbus   Florida
Boone Jenner 3 Points Vincent Trocheck 3
Josh Anderson 2 Goals Vincent Trocheck 1
Boone Jenner 2 Assists Vincent Trocheck 2
Oliver Bjorkstrand 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals Vincent Trocheck 1
Sergei Bobrovsky .912 Save Percentage Antti Niemi .857
Sergei Bobrovsky 31 Saves Antti Niemi 18
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Columbus 40 7 2-4 1-1 6 23
Florida 34 3 0-1 2-4 12 39
Upcoming Games
  • Florida will play their next game at home against NY Rangers. The Panthers have a W/L % of .250 after a win and .375 after a loss.
  • Columbus will play their next game on the road against Tampa Bay. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .667 after a win and .750 after a loss.