Red-hot Blue Jackets tame scuffling Panthers

Columbus wins third straight, snaps 0-6-3 slide versus Florida

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Ivan Provorov had a goal with two assists and Mathieu Olivier scored twice as the host Columbus Blue Jackets won their third straight, 4-2 over the scuffling Florida Panthers on Thursday night. Boone Jenner also scored and Jet Greaves made 26 saves for the Blue Jackets, who are 14-2-1 since Jan. 11 and just outside of playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

Why it matters

The Blue Jackets have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL over the past two months, surging into playoff contention in the Eastern Conference. This win over the struggling Panthers, who are fading from the playoff race, further solidifies Columbus's position as a team on the rise.

The details

Columbus opened the scoring on a power-play goal by Provorov in the first period. Olivier made it 2-0 in the second, and Jenner extended the lead early in the third. The Panthers finally got on the board late in the third with goals from Niko Mikkola and Sam Bennett, but an apparent tying goal by Gustav Forsling was waived off after a Columbus challenge. Olivier sealed the win with an empty-netter.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 6, 2026.
  • Columbus scored the opening goal 5:08 into the first period.
  • Olivier made it 2-0 with 9:10 remaining in the second period.
  • Jenner extended the lead to 3-0 just 1:41 into the third period.
  • The Panthers scored their two goals in the final 10:52 of the third period.

The players

Ivan Provorov

A defenseman for the Columbus Blue Jackets who scored a goal and had two assists in the game.

Mathieu Olivier

A forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets who scored two goals, including an empty-netter, in the game.

Boone Jenner

The captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets who scored a goal in the third period to extend the team's lead.

Jet Greaves

The goaltender for the Columbus Blue Jackets who made 26 saves in the game.

Daniil Tarasov

The goaltender for the Florida Panthers who made 24 saves in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We must keep this momentum going as we make a push for the playoffs. This was a big win against a tough division rival.”

— Boone Jenner, Captain, Columbus Blue Jackets

“We need to find a way to get back on track. These last few games have been very frustrating, but we can't give up on the season yet.”

— Sam Bennett, Forward, Florida Panthers

What’s next

The Blue Jackets will look to continue their hot streak when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. The Panthers, meanwhile, will try to snap their four-game losing skid when they visit the Washington Capitals on Sunday.

The takeaway

The Blue Jackets have emerged as a surprise contender in the Eastern Conference, thanks to their strong play over the past two months. Meanwhile, the Panthers are struggling to keep their playoff hopes alive as they continue to slide down the standings.