SUNRISE, Fla. — Sam Reinhart scored 2:20 into overtime, extending the Florida Panthers’ winning streak to three games with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday night. The win pulls Florida closer to a playoff berth, though the climb remains steep.
The Panthers, two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, are now nine points behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with 17 games remaining for both teams, according to NHL.com. Sergei Bobrovsky’s stellar performance in net proved crucial, keeping the Panthers competitive early on.
After a dominant first period from Bobrovsky (14 saves) kept the outplayed Panthers even, the Blue Jackets broke through at 13:01 of the second period. Adam Fantilli took a lead pass from Mason Marchment and wired a wrist shot home from the right circle, giving Columbus a 1-0 lead.
Florida responded quickly in the third period, capitalizing on a power play at the 1:28 mark. Reinhart took a pass from Mackie Samoskevich and fired a high shot that deflected off both Elvis Merzlikins and the crossbar. The rebound struck Sam Bennett in the torso, and he was able to swat the puck into the net, tying the game.
Bennett’s goal marked his 50th point of the season, even as the assist brought Reinhart to 60 points on the year. The Panthers continued to press, but Bobrovsky was forced to make several key saves, facing only seven shots in the final frame but needing to be sharp on each one.
The overtime period began with controversy. Fantilli was called for tripping Matthew Tkachuk on a breakaway, giving the Panthers a 4-on-3 power play. Following four saves from Merzlikins, Tkachuk exchanged passes with rookie Mike Benning and then softly one-timed the puck through the slot to Reinhart, who gathered the puck and roofed his shot from a tricky angle to end the game.
Reinhart’s goal was his team-leading 29th of the season, and his sixth game-winning goal of the season, according to NBC Miami. The Panthers are determined to send their 2026 first-round draft pick to Chicago, and victories like these fuel that hope.
Rookie Mike Benning earned a secondary assist on Reinhart’s winner, marking his first career point in his NHL debut. Benning played 16:49 and was credited with a hit and a blocked shot.
Sam Bennett’s goal gave him 50 points for the second time in his career. He is now just two points away from setting a new career-high, having scored five times in the last seven games.
Sergei Bobrovsky delivered a stellar performance, finishing with 30 saves to collect his 24th win of the campaign. Bobrovsky posted consecutive wins for the first time since mid-January, demonstrating a return to form at a critical juncture of the season.
Matthew Tkachuk’s assist extended his point streak to four straight games. Tkachuk has amassed 20 points in 18 games played since returning to the lineup on January 19.
The Panthers will now embark on a four-game road trip, beginning Sunday in Seattle.
What comes next for the Panthers is a challenging stretch of games against Western Conference opponents. Their ability to maintain this momentum on the road will be crucial as they continue to chase a playoff spot. The team’s performance in Seattle will be a key indicator of their resolve.
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