Sergei Bobrovsky delivered a stellar performance on Thursday night, stopping all 16 shots he faced to earn his second shutout in four games and fourth of the season, as the Florida Panthers defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0.
The victory marked Bobrovsky’s 423rd career win, tying the 36-year-old veteran with Hall of Famer Tony Esposito for 10th on the NHL’s all-time wins list. Impressively, Bobrovsky accomplished this feat in 742 games — 144 fewer than Esposito.
Florida capitalized on their special teams play, scoring two power-play goals to establish control. Sam Reinhart opened the scoring in the first period, converting on a power-play opportunity with an assist from captain Aleksander Barkov. Rookie Mackie Samoskevich extended the lead in the second period, cleaning up a rebound after Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins stopped Barkov’s initial shot.
Barkov capped off his strong night by adding an empty-net goal in the final minutes, giving him a goal and two assists. Reinhart also notched two assists, contributing to all three Panthers goals.
Bobrovsky’s recent form has been key to Florida’s surge. The Atlantic Division leaders have now won five straight games and 10 of their last 12, with Bobrovsky manning the crease for seven of those victories. His previous shutout came just days earlier in a 3-0 win over Calgary.
Despite a solid 33-save effort from Merzlikins, the Blue Jackets struggled offensively, generating just 16 shots on goal. Columbus, currently holding a wild-card playoff position, has posted a 5-4-1 record over its last 10 outings.
Samoskevich’s second-period rebound goal, following Merzlikins’ save on Barkov, gave Florida a crucial 2-0 cushion. Florida outshot Columbus 36-16, dominating puck possession throughout the contest.
The Blue Jackets will visit the New York Rangers on Saturday, while the Panthers will aim to extend their winning streak as they host the Buffalo Sabres.
