The Florida Panthers battled Columbus on Thursday night, resulting in their first loss of the season, 3-2 in a shootout. Although they had lost, they still managed to get one point to add to their spot in the division. The last 3 games have been comeback games, proving the Panthers are in every game until the final buzzer.
Flow of the Game
The Panthers got off to a hot start to begin Game 2 of their 8 game season series vs. Columbus. With 5 shot attempts in the first two minutes, they put Columbus on their heels. When Columbus was able to get the puck out of their zone, they began to collect themselves again. A dominant 3 minutes interrupted by a good Panthers chance, the Blue Jackets were looking dominant. The first line of the Panthers, directed the momentum back in their favor for a chance that look destined for a goal. However, a hand pass slowed down momentum and sent the game to commercial break. After each commercial break or puck stoppage, the Panthers would lose momentum. On a great forecheck, CBJ snuck a pass across the crease for a Mikko Koivu goal, 1-0 CBJ. This lit a fire for Florida but they ended the period on the penalty kill.
Columbus began the period with 1:46 left on the power play. Although they could not capitalize, this momentum carried on for a minute after the power play. Florida controlled the game again, until a bad bounce gave Columbus a scoring chance. With a save, Driedger allowed Florida to settle down, eventually leading to some scoring chances. However, a stoppage diminished Florida’s momentum once again. Panthers Goalie, Chris Driedger, made two huge stops to keep the Panthers in the game. Duclair had a great forecheck with 2:46 to go. Duclair stole the puck, and took a shot on net. Meanwhile, Barkov set up a screen on the goalie, with Verhaeghe set up back door. The puck trickled off the goalie right onto Verhaeghe’s stick for an easy goal. Verhaeghe’s fourth of the season, made it 1-1. The period wrapped up with a Seth Jones slashing penalty.
The Panthers started the third hot, but the fire burnt out 4 minutes in. Duclair and Werenski were both called for a penalty, making it 4v4 at 15:58. Florida’s discipline looked missing, when Huberdeau quickly followed up with a slashing penalty. 7 seconds into that power play, Max Domi released a one timer to put Columbus up 2-1. Less than two minutes later, Florida took another penalty, too many men. The Panthers had a great penalty kill, with a couple shorthanded chances themselves. At this point, Florida continued to build up their momentum. It was with 7:04 remaining in the game that the puck made its way around the top of the circles. A shot on net found itself behind Merzlikins and Luostarinen put the puck in the back of the net. With it 2-2, the game continued to be back and forth until the final buzzer.
Once again, the Panthers and Blue Jackets were headed to overtime. Columbus began with a quick start, as a shot from Atkinson hit the post. It was after this, the teams leveled out and traded shots for all 5 minutes of overtime. With the score not settled, the Blue Jackets and Panthers met in a shootout once more. 3 rounds of shootout went by, without either goalie letting in a goal. However, it was Alexandre Texier scoring a highlight reel goal, to put Columbus up. Although Hornqvist had the magic the night before, that was not the case on Thursday, as his shot was stopped.
Panthers Takeaways
Thursday night provided another element to the goalie situation down in Sunrise. The 10 million dollar goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky, has a .879 save percentage through two games. Vying for that same position is 26 year old Chris Driedger who has a .933 save percentage through two games. It looks like there is a possibility of a new starter for the Panthers this season. On the bright side, new general manager Bill Zito, has made some good moves for Florida. New additions, Carter Verhaeghe, Patric Hornqvist, and Anthony Duclair are having great starts for their new team.