National Hockey League
Florida 9, Columbus 2
When: 6:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 15, 2022
Where: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, Florida
Referees: Peter MacDougall, Ian Walsh
Linesmen: Dan Kelly, Jonathan Deschamps
Attendance: 15088

Carter Verhaeghe and Anton Lundell scored two goals each as the Florida Panthers continued to dominate at home, crushing the Columbus Blue Jackets 9-2 on Saturday night in Sunrise, Fla.

The Panthers lead the NHL in goals this season, and they have the best home record in the league (21-3-0). In their past eight games, the Panthers have scored 50 goals, the best stretch for any NHL team since the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-96.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves, improving his record to 19-3-3.

The Panthers, who are on a nine-game points streak at 8-0-1, also got one goal each from Anthony Duclair, MacKenzie Weegar, Jonathan Huberdeau, Sam Bennett and Ryan Lomberg.

Weegar led Florida with a career-high-tying four points, including three assists.

Florida's record for goals in one game is 10, and Weegar nearly got the Panthers there, but he was stopped on a breakaway with 4:15 left in the third.

Aaron Ekblad also had three assists as 12 Panthers players produced points, including nine with multiple points.

Columbus, which routed the Carolina Hurricanes 6-0 on Thursday night, managed goals by Gustav Nyquist and Boone Jenner. But the Jackets trailed 6-0 before they got on the board, and they lost to Florida for the seventh straight time.

Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins lasted less than 14 minutes, allowing four goals on 15 shots. He was replaced by Joonas Korpisalo as the Panthers chased the opposing goalie for the second time in 24 hours. They did the same thing in a 7-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Friday night.

It took just 46 seconds for the Panthers to get a 1-0 lead on Saturday, the eighth straight game they have scored first. Verhaeghe scored from the slot on a pass from Weegar.

The Panthers made it 2-0 on a power-play goal just 81 seconds later. After winning a faceoff, Huberdeau dished to Duclair, who scored on a one-timer from the slot.

Weegar scored on a breakaway short-handed goal at 9:27 in the first, giving Florida a 3-0 lead.

Verhaeghe's second goal chased Merzlikins, giving the Panthers a 4-0 lead.

At that point, Panthers fans started chanting: "We want 10!"

The Panthers nearly obliged.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Columbus   Florida
Gustav Nyquist 2 Points MacKenzie Weegar 4
Gustav Nyquist 1 Goals Anton Lundell 2
Gustav Nyquist 1 Assists MacKenzie Weegar 3
Gustav Nyquist 1 Power Play Goals Anthony Duclair 1
N/A Short Handed Goals MacKenzie Weegar 1
Joonas Korpisalo .861 Save Percentage Sergei Bobrovsky .933
Joonas Korpisalo 31 Saves Sergei Bobrovsky 28
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Columbus 30 2 1-4 3-4 8 27
Florida 51 9 1-4 3-4 8 21
Upcoming Games
  • Florida will play their next game on the road against Calgary. The Panthers have a W/L % of .760 after a win and .538 after a loss.
  • Columbus will play their next game on the road against NY Islanders. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .353 after a win and .579 after a loss.