COLUMBUS – Seth Jones made his mark in Columbus.
Helping lead the Florida Panthers to a thrilling 7-3 win over the Blue Jackets, the gifted blueliner pieced together an historically generous performance at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday.
Dishing out four assists in the blowout, Jones not only matched his personal best, but also equaled the franchise record for most helpers in a single game by a Panthers defenseman.
“I’ve played with a lot of great players this year,” Jones said after the win. “I try to do my part and be the best player I can be out there – whether it’s 5-on-5 or special teams. I’m making some plays to some great players, and they’re putting the puck in the net.”
In the history of the Panthers, only Bryan McCabe (Oct. 16, 2010), Brian Campbell (Oct. 17, 2011) and Aaron Ekblad (March 10, 2022) have also recorded four assists in a single game.
For Jones, it marked the second time he’d achieved the feat, with the first coming in 2024 when he was with the Chicago Blackhawks.
“He had a great summer of training with Aaron Ekblad,” head coach Paul Maurice said. “They spent the entire time here, for the most part, in Florida. They trained hard. He’s a fit, fit man. He’s a little faster with everything he does and has got a little more confidence.”
Off to an outstanding start, Jones is playing some of the best hockey of his 14-year career.
Through seven games, the 32-year-old veteran is tied for fifth in the NHL in scoring among defensemen with seven points (1G, 6A) while also averaging 25:52 of ice time per contest.
At 5-on-5, the Panthers have led 42-25 in scoring chances when he’s been deployed.
“He's been excellent all year,” said teammate Brady Tkachuk, who earned first-star honors with four points (3G, 1A) against Columbus. “He's played some big minutes for our team.”
Jones will look to stay hot when the Panthers kick off a two-game homestand with a matchup against the Vancouver Canucks at Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
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