Both the Florida Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets had incentive to get two points on Thursday night at Nationwide Arena. While both teams got a point, it was the Panthers who capitalized in the end.
Aleksander Barkov scored the game-winning goal in overtime on a power play to lift the Panthers to a 1-0 win over the Blue Jackets. In a game that resembled playoff hockey in every way, shape and form, an unfortunate bounced ultimately decided the outcome.
Game Recap
The first period was a case of two teams feeling each other out at the start. It was the Panthers that started to get some momentum. Despite Barkov’s tripping penalty, they gained a 13-5 edge on the shot clock.
Elvis Merzlikins, on the day that his wife announced the arrival of their son Jaxon, played about as confidently as he had all season. He stopped all 13 shots faced. That momentum helped the Blue Jackets gain control in the second.
The Blue Jackets held the edge in shots 12-7 and had the better of the scoring chances. Sergei Bobrovsky matched Merzlikins save for save.
The Blue Jackets had to kill a penalty late in the second when Boone Jenner tripped Tobias Bjornfot. With the successful kill, both teams went into the room in a 0-0 game after 40 minutes.
The third was great intensity on both sides with not much room being given. The Blue Jackets thought they broke the ice. However, replay showed that Jenner kicked the puck in.
Although the Panthers had some chances late, Merzlikins was there. Then the play that ultimately decided the game happened.
While in his own zone, Kirill Marchenko batted the puck out of play while the puck was in the air. By the letter of the law, it was a penalty.
The Blue Jackets killed the portion in regulation to get a much-needed point. However in the extra session, Barkov beat Merzlikins 29 seconds in to send the Panthers to victory.
Postgame, coach Dean Evason summed up the night for his team. “We’re not happy in that dressing room. There’s no like, ‘Oh, good, we played great against the Stanley Cup champions.’ We’re pissed. But did we do the right things to obviously get a point? Did we catch a bad break trying to do the right thing? Yeah. So we’re real positive — after we’re pissed off.”
Merzlikins made 27 saves on the night. Bobrovsky recorded his second-consecutive shutout when starting against the Blue Jackets by making 25 saves.
The Blue Jackets scored one goal during their four-game homestand despite playing very well against New Jersey and Florida. They turn right around and play the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night. The Panthers now head to Washington for a Saturday game against the Capitals.