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Panthers Seek Speed and Stability Against Blue Jackets
The Florida Panthers (41-24-3, 85 points) continue their six-game road trip with a crucial clash against the Columbus Blue Jackets (31-28-8, 70 points) on Thursday night. As the Panthers search for momentum amid a turbulent stretch, the Blue Jackets are desperately trying to find their offense after a string of low-scoring losses.
The Panthers are reeling after a 4-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Sunday, marking their third defeat in the first four games of their road swing. Despite taking early leads, Florida has struggled to maintain control in the third period, squandering two-goal advantages in consecutive games.
“Structurally, I’m very comfortable with our game,” Florida head coach Paul Maurice said. “We are correct in that part of our game. I think foot speed, some of the other teams have an advantage on us right now. We can play a little faster.”
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Injury Woes for the Panthers
The Panthers are navigating a wave of injuries that has forced them to make adjustments on the fly. Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov is deemed week-to-week after sustaining a right arm injury in the loss to the Islanders.
To compensate, Florida has recalled defenseman Tobias Bjornfot from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. The 23-year-old was previously called up in January when the Panthers were dealing with absences on the blue line, including top-pair defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Niko Mikkola.
“It’s nice to have a guy that you bring up that everybody knows,” Maurice said of Bjornfot. “His games for us have been very good. We feel very comfortable with him in our lineup.”
The Panthers are also dealing with significant forward absences:
- Matthew Tkachuk, the team’s leading scorer, has been placed on long-term injured reserve with a groin injury.
- Brad Marchand is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
- Aaron Ekblad has been suspended for the rest of the regular season and two playoff games for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
Blue Jackets Struggling to Find Offense
The Columbus Blue Jackets have hit a rough patch, losing four straight games and failing to generate offense consistently. After being shut out by both the Vegas Golden Knights and New York Rangers, they dropped a close 2-1 decision to the New Jersey Devils on Monday.
Despite the loss, Columbus head coach Dean Evason remained upbeat about his team’s performance.
“It was freaking awesome,” Evason said. “Did we get the result? No. Did we play the right way? Do we believe that this is the turning point? Yeah, 100 percent.”
The Blue Jackets’ lone goal came from Mathieu Olivier in the third period, breaking a scoreless drought that lasted over 182 minutes. Olivier has found his scoring touch lately, netting six goals in his past 10 games.
However, the Blue Jackets’ struggles against Florida are evident. They were shut out in their most recent meeting on March 6 and dropped a 4-3 decision to the Panthers on October 15 in Columbus.
Key Players to Watch
Florida Panthers:
- Aleksander Barkov (25 goals, 45 assists) – Leading the charge in the absence of Tkachuk.
- Carter Verhaeghe (32 goals, 24 assists) – Consistent scoring presence.
- Tobias Bjornfot – Newly recalled defenseman looking to solidify the blue line.
Columbus Blue Jackets:
- Johnny Gaudreau (23 goals, 38 assists) – Needs to find his offensive touch again.
- Mathieu Olivier (6 goals in last 10 games) – Emerging as a scoring threat.
- Elvis Merzlikins (17-19-6, 3.22 GAA) – Expected to be between the pipes, aiming for a bounce-back game.
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Betting Insights and Playoff Picture
- Florida remains in the thick of the playoff race despite recent struggles, while Columbus is looking to gain momentum to close out the season.
- Both teams are looking to correct recent inconsistencies and put together a complete 60-minute effort.
- Stanley Cup Odds and NHL Conference Winner Odds are adjusting as playoff spots tighten up.
For the latest game odds, expert analysis, and betting insights, visit our Picks and Odds Page, guided by our Expert Betting Guide.
Final Thoughts
Can the Panthers overcome their injury woes and speed issues to snap their road skid? Will the Blue Jackets finally find consistent scoring and end their losing streak? Both teams are desperate to find stability as the regular season winds down, and this matchup could be pivotal for Florida’s playoff push.
