Third period dooms Panthers in loss to Blue Jackets — their third consecutive defeat
.JPG "Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, left, stops a shot in front of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson during the second period an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)")
The Florida Panthers had a prime chance to take the lead late Sunday. The Panthers found themselves on the power play 33 seconds into the third period after the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Mathieu Olivier committed a tripping penalty.
But the Blue Jackets, despite temporarily being down a skater, got possession behind their own net and made their way down the ice where Sean Kuraly corralled a rebound and fired a wrist shot past Sergei Bobrovsky.
Florida never recovered after that in a 5-3 loss at Nationwide Arena.
The Panthers (9-8-2) have now lost three consecutive games, including two in regulation.
Johnny Gaudreau pushed Columbus’ lead to 4-2 about six minutes after Kuraly’s go-ahead goal. The Blue Jackets (7-10-2) capped scoring with a Boone Jenner power-play goal, his second of the game, with 1:49 left in regulation. Colin White cut the deficit to two with a desperation goal in the final minute.
The loss came despite Florida outshooting Columbus 49-23.
Matthew Tkachuk opened scoring 7:52 into the first period when he deflected a Gustav Forsling shot from the point into the net, giving Florida its first lead since its 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
That lead lasted ... about three-and-a-half minutes. Columbus tied the game with 8:39 left in the first when Yegor Chinakov intercepted a pass and scored unopposed on a breakaway.
The Blue Jackets made it 2-1 early in the second period when Jenner scored on a deflection on the power play.
Aaron Ekblad tied the game with 3:22 left in the second when he took a pass from Forsling, skated his way toward the net and jammed the puck past Daniil Tarasov before Columbus scored its three third-period goals to go ahead for good.
Up next
The Panthers return to Sunrise for two games at FLA Live Arena. They host the Boston Bruins on Wednesday and St. Louis Blues on Saturday before starting a five-game road trip.
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