COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Columbus Blue Jackets edged the Florida Panthers 2-1 Thursday night at Nationwide arena. The Jackets came into the game with 26 home breaking the 25 wins of the 2008-2009 season against Philadelphia. The win put the Jackets second in the Metropolitan Division, leap frogging the Pittsburgh Penguins. With 96 points they are two points behind the Washington Capitals and one point ahead of Pittsburgh. The Panthers came into this game desperate for a win. With 30-27-11
March 16, 2017: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Brandon Saad (20) fights for the puck against Florida Panthers center Nick Bjugstad (27) in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
they are ranked sixth in the Atlantic Division, and 12th in the Eastern Conference.
“They are a team fighting for a playoff spot so they came off with a jump, a lot of energy, we didn’t match them in the first” said defenseman Zach Werenski.
Both teams when back and forth dumping the puck in each others zone. The Panthers bit the Jackets and drew first blood with a goal by Johnathan Marchessault, his 23rd of the season and fourth goal in the last four games. Marchessault scored off his own rebound with assists going to Thomas Vanek and Alex Petrovic at 18:15 in the first period. Both teams left the ice with the Panthers in the lead 1-0.
The Jackets would strike back with a rocket of a shot from the left point by Werenski at 15:51 in the second period with assists going to Josh Anderson and Matt Calvert. This was Werenski’s 11th goal of the season.
“I knew the goalie was down so I tried to put one upstairs. I couldn’t much net, so I had to feel for it” said Werenski. “It wasn’t a snipe but it found its way in.”
Anderson, assisted by Jack Johnson and William Karlsson would put the Jackets in the lead 2-1 at 19:21. This gave Anderson his second point of the night and 15th goal of the season.
With the Jackets in the lead 2-1, the Panthers mounted a desperate attack on Sergei Bobrovski. Bobrovski turned himself into a brick wall stopping 32 of 33 shots on goal. The period would end with the Jackets victorious.
For the Blue Jackets, tenacity and forechecking was the key to winning the game.
“We stayed dog and bone on the puck.” said Blue Jackets left wing Matt Calvert. “We kept forechecking, shutting them down in the neutral zone and just went from there.”
Jacket’s head coach John Tortorella would agree.
“That’s a hard fought game against a desperate team.” said Tortorella. “That’s a big win for us. They are not always going to be by tow or three goals or pretty.”
A hard fought game against a desperate team who played like a desperate team indeed. Despite losing, the Panthers out shot the Jackets 33-34. The final minutes of the third period, the Panthers opened fire on the Jackets net. Unfortunately for them, they were unsuccessful.
March 16, 2017: Florida Panthers goalie James Reimer (34) warms up before facing the Columbus Blue Jackets in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Florida Panthers right wing Jaromir Jagr (68) skates during warm ups before facing the Columbus Blue Jackets in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Florida Panthers right wing Jaromir Jagr (68) skates during warm ups before facing the Columbus Blue Jackets in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Florida Panthers goalie James Reimer (34) warms up before facing the Columbus Blue Jackets in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Florida Panthers defenseman Michael Matheson (19) handles the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Florida Panthers defenseman Michael Matheson (19) handles the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets i in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Florida Panthers defenseman Mark Pysyk (13) checks Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Scott Hartnell (43) into the boards in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Btrandon Saad relaxes in between whistles against Florida in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Florida Panthers goalie James Reimer (34) makes the save against Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (28) in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Florida Panthers goalie James Reimer (34) makes the save against Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (28) in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Florida Panthers goalie James Reimer (34) makes the save against Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (28) in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Florida Panthers right wing Jaromir Jagr (68) rests in between periods while facing the Columbus Blue Jackets in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes the save against Florida Panthers center Nick Bjugstad (27) in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes the save against Florida Panthers center Colton Sceviour (7) in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes the save against Florida Panthers center Colton Sceviour (7) in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes the save against Florida Panthers center Colton Sceviour (7) in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) rests in between whistles while facing the Florida Panthers in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Nick Foligno (71) fights for position against Florida Panthers goalie James Reimer (34) in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Florida Panthers center Nick Bjugstad (27) carries the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
March 16, 2017: Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle (3) carries the puck down the ice against the Columbus Blue Jackets in their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
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