Tonight at 7:30 (not 7, take note) is the start of a three game road trip for the Columbus Blue Jackets. First up is the Florida Panthers. Like their cross-state rivals in Tampa Bay, the Panthers are led by a lethal top line featuring Evgenii Dadonov, Aleksander Barkov, and Jonthan Huberdeau. That trio has accounted for 15 of Florida’s 40 goals. They were on the ice for 4 goals in Monday’s 8-5 loss to the Lightning.
Good news for Columbus: For as many goals as they’ve scored, the Panthers have not excelled at STOPPING goals. With one of the league’s worst penalty kills, this opponent may be the cure for what ails the woeful CBJ power play.