In Columbus, Carter Verhaeghe scored four times on Saturday, including a natural hat trick over the first and second period to lead the Florida Panthers to a 7-0 win over the Blue Jackets on Saturday. 
The win vaulted the Panthers back into a wild card spot, one points ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who lost to the Boston Bruins, 4-3, on Saturday.
“It was a solid effort start to finish,” Verhaeghe said. “Everyone played well, all four lines. [Lyon] was great back there. It was awesome. It was a good team effort. We want to keep it going the next few games.”
Alex Lyon made 21 saves for the shutout win.
“It feels pretty good,” Lyon said of the shutout in his 34th NHL game. “I wish I could be super humble, but it actually feels really good. It’s one of those things I’ve always wanted, but the opportunity never presented itself.
“The shutout was nice personally, but I would have been happy winning 7-6. The focus this time of the year is winning.”
Sam Reinhart scored off the power play in the first period to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
“I liked our jump and that was important,” Reinhart said. “A lot of scoreboard watching at this time of year. For us to come and handle what we could have today, that was really important.”
Verhaeghe scored his first to close out the opening stanza with a 2-0 score to Florida.
The Panthers improved to 39-31-7.
“We had some moments early but they scored easy, as far as some of their goals, and they got rolling there and then we were chasing,” Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. “It wasn’t a good recipe.
“They were a better team. They built a lead and then you get a little scrambly. It wasn’t pretty.”
Verhaeghe then hit twice in the middle frame for a 4-0 lead.
“We had some moments early but they scored easy, as far as some of their goals, and they got rolling there and then we were chasing,” Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. “It wasn’t a good recipe.
“They were a better team. They built a lead and then you get a little scrambly. It wasn’t pretty.”
Columbus dropped to 23-44-8.
“We need a better effort than that,” Columbus defenseman Gavin Bayreuther said. “Playing in the NHL is very, very special, no matter what the outcome is. You hope to have a less embarrassing moment than that.”
Nick Cousins scored ahead of the midway point of the third period for a 5-0 advantage.
Verhaeghe scored in the third to make the count 6-0.
“I’m playing with two good players (Barkov and Duclair),” Verhaeghe said. “They found me all over the ice. I shot the puck, it goes in a couple of times. It happens.”
Eric Staal scored for the 7-0 final.
Michael Hutchinson made 42 saves in the loss.
You must be logged in to post a comment.