COLUMBUS – Back at it.
The Florida Panthers will complete their back on the road as they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. ET.
Following a 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday at KeyBank Center, the Panthers sit at 2-2-2.
“Our power play was good and overall, we played pretty strong,” Anton Lundell said after the game. “We can obviously do some things better and try to stay out of the box a bit more.”
For the host team, the Blue Jackets are 2-2-0 record on the season.
Columbus is also coming off a 5-3 loss, falling to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday at at Enterprise Center.
For more information on tonight’s game, continue below.
EYE ON THE CATS
JONES IN COLUMBUS
Seth Jones will be back in Columbus. A Blue Jacket for six seasons, Jones appeared in 381 games and recorded 223 points (50G, 173A). Jones ranks seventh all time in assists and 10th all time in points in Blue Jackets history.
POWER PLAY
The power play started to click on Monday’s game against the Sabres. Going two for four, the Panthers generated nine shots and 11 scoring chances. Both goals scored by Sam Reinhart, the two-way forward has 85 power play goals with the Panthers since the 2021-22 season.
CLOSE GAMES
The Panthers and Blue Jackets have played plenty of tight games recently, with three of the last four meetings decided after regulation. Four of the past six games in the series have come down to a single goal. This season, the Panthers have been in one goal contests four out of their six games.
TKACHUK POINT STREAK
With an assist in Monday’s game in Buffalo, Matthew Tkachuk extended his point streak to five games. No. 19 leads the Panthers this season in goals (three) and points (five). Since the start of 2022-23, his 189 assists lead all Florida skaters.
FIVE KEY STATS
1. Sam Reinhart has 39 points (14G, 25A) in 30 games against the Blue Jackets.
2. The Panthers are 9-1-0 in the last 10 games versus the Blue Jackets.
3. Anton Lundell leads the Panthers with 19 shots.
4. Radko Gudas has a team-high 11 blocked shots.
5. Carter Verhaeghe is six games away from 500th NHL game.
THEY SAID IT
“The more opportunities you get there, the more comfortable you are. You get the puck in different areas. You have a little bit more time and space.” – Sam Reinhart on playing center
He's net front and battling all night. One went for him. I thought he was close to having that happen five or six times since he's been here.” – Paul Maurice on Brady Tkachuk
OPPOSITION OUTLOOK
- The 2026 Norris Trophy winning is back at it. Averaging a league-high 29:35 time on ice, Zach Werenski ranks first on the Blue Jackets in plus/minus rating (+3) and is tied for first in points (four) and assists (four).
- Recently acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Matthew Knies has fit right in with the Blue Jackets. Through four games, the 23-year-old has four points (2G, 2A) and is tied for the team lead in goals and points.
- Cam Talbot is expected to get the start for the Blue Jackets. His second start of the season, Talbot stopped 20 of 22 shots against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 3-2 shootout win on Oct. 9.
- There will be a familiar face on the Blue Jackets bench. Former Panther Ryan Lomberg is in his first year in Columbus, and has thrown nine hits in four games. A member of the 2024 Stanley Cup team, Lomberg tallied 49 points (28G, 21A) in 246 games from 2020-24 with Florida.
- The Blue Jackets have outshot 32-26 and outscored 6-3 against their opponents in the first period so far this season.
PROJECTED ROSTER
Stay tuned closer to puck drop for lineup updates.
