In a thrilling overtime matchup, the Florida Panthers defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 1-0 on Thursday night. Aleksander Barkov scored the winning goal just 29 seconds into overtime, propelling the Panthers to victory. Sergei Bobrovsky was a key player for Florida, recording his third shutout in March with 25 saves.
The win was crucial for the Panthers, as it snapped a two-game road losing streak and kept them level with Toronto at the top of the Atlantic Division. Florida dominated the season series against Columbus, winning all games and extending their winning streak against the Blue Jackets to eight games.
Elvis Merzlikins returned to the lineup for Columbus after missing two games for the birth of his second child. Despite his strong performance with 27 saves, the Blue Jackets couldn’t secure a win and have now lost five straight games.
A key moment in the game came when Columbus committed a delay-of-game penalty in the final seconds of regulation, giving the Panthers a power-play opportunity in overtime. Bobrovsky’s shutout performance was highlighted by his ability to stop 12 shots in the second period.
Looking ahead, the Panthers will face off against the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Bobrovsky’s standout performance against his former team has solidified his reputation as a key player for Florida this season, with five shutouts already under his belt.
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