Panthers at Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets beat Panthers 4–2 at Nationwide Arena on March 5, 2026.

🗓 Thu, Mar 5, 2026 · 18:00 CST 📍 Nationwide Arena, Columbus 🏒 2025-26 🔁 Season series tied 1–1 Head-to-head history →

⭐ Three stars

Best games by the box score
1st star 🧥 CBJ
Ivan Provorov
1 G, 2 A
4 shots · 26:22 TOI
2nd star 🧥 CBJ
Mathieu Olivier
2 G
3 shots · 15:44 TOI
3rd star 🐆 FLA
Aaron Ekblad
2 A
22:19 TOI

🚨 Scoring

6 goals · in order
1st period
🧥 Ivan Provorov PP Go-ahead 1st · 05:08
0–1
2nd period
🧥 Mathieu Olivier 2nd · 10:50
0–2
3rd period
🧥 Boone Jenner 3rd · 01:41
Assists: Kent Johnson · beat Daniil Tarasov
0–3
🐆 Niko Mikkola 3rd · 09:08
1–3
🐆 Sam Bennett PP 3rd · 14:44
2–3
🧥 Mathieu Olivier Empty net 3rd · 18:18
2–4

📊 Team stats

Away left · home right
🐆FLA CBJ🧥
28 Shots on goal 28
1/3 Power play (goals / chances) 1/3
19 Hits 16
6 Blocked shots 20
3 Takeaways 3
15 Giveaways 13
8 Penalty minutes 8
FLA shooting 7.1% (2/28) CBJ shooting 14.3% (4/28)

🥅 Goaltending

Saves, shots faced and save percentage
🐆Panthers
24/27
.889 SV% · 3 GA · 59:00 TOI
🧥Blue Jackets
26/28
.929 SV% · 2 GA · 60:00 TOI

🗺 Where the goals came from

6 of 6 goals located
Ivan Provorov · 1st 05:08 · 0–1 Mathieu Olivier · 2nd 10:50 · 0–2 Boone Jenner · 3rd 01:41 · 0–3 Niko Mikkola · 3rd 09:08 · 1–3 Sam Bennett · 3rd 14:44 · 2–3 Mathieu Olivier · 3rd 18:18 · 2–4
FLA CBJ
The net is on the right for both teams. Hover a dot for the goal.

🔮 Period by period

AI
After 1st — 0–1
Panthers
Panthers — trailing by 1 goal after 1st: 3-10 (23% win rate, 13 games)
Blue Jackets
Blue Jackets — leading by 1 goal after 1st: 7-4-1 (58% win rate, 12 games)
After 2nd — 0–2
Panthers
Panthers — trailing by 2 goals after 2nd: 1-2-1 (25% win rate, 4 games)
Blue Jackets
Blue Jackets — leading by 2 goals after 2nd: 2-1-2 (40% win rate, 5 games)

🧩 Lines & pairings

Estimated from ice time
🐆Panthers
L1 Reinhart · Lundell · Bennett 18:32
L2 Tkachuk · Rodrigues · Verhaeghe 15:57
L3 Nosek · Luostarinen · Samoskevich 13:59
L4 Marchand · Vilmanis · Boqvist 10:34
D1 Ekblad · Forsling 21:33
D2 Kulikov · Mikkola 19:44
D3 Balinskis · Sebrango 15:50
🧥Blue Jackets
L1 Coyle · Fantilli · Monahan 19:21
L2 Sillinger · Marchenko · Olivier 15:54
L3 Lundestrom · Jenner · Johnson 14:58
L4 Voronkov · Marchment · Wood 10:26
D1 Provorov · Mateychuk 24:30
D2 Severson · Gudbranson 22:10
D3 Christiansen · Zamula 11:45

📝 Game recap

AI

Blue Jackets Defeat Panthers 4-2 in Exciting Home Victory

The Columbus Blue Jackets secured a solid 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers on March 5, 2026, showcasing their offensive power and strong defensive play. The game was decided with a strong first two periods that set the tone and momentum for the home team.

Big Picture

The Blue Jackets took control of the game early, demonstrating strong teamwork and precise execution. They jumped to a quick lead and maintained it through aggressive play and strategic offensive positioning. Despite a late push from the Panthers, the Blue Jackets held firm, ultimately sealing the win thanks to timely scoring from their key players.

Turning Point

The pivotal moment in the game came during the second period when the Blue Jackets scored their second goal at 10:50. Mathieu Olivier's goal, assisted by Egor Zamula and Ivan Provorov, put Columbus ahead 2-0. This provided a significant boost in confidence for the Blue Jackets, allowing them to dictate the pace of the game and making it tougher for the Panthers to mount a comeback.

Although the Panthers did score twice in the third period, they were unable to break the Blue Jackets' momentum. Columbus responded with Olivier's second goal in the final minute, solidifying their lead and dousing any hopes of a Panther rally.

Standout Performances

Ivan Provorov was a standout player for the Blue Jackets, contributing not only defensively but also offensively with two assists and a goal of his own. His presence on the ice provided the Jackets with both scoring opportunities and a strong defensive posture.

Mathieu Olivier also shone with two goals, showcasing his scoring ability and making him a key factor in the game's outcome. Boone Jenner added to the scoreboard, helping establish a firm lead for the Jackets early in the third period.

For the Panthers, Niko Mikkola and Sam Bennett each found the back of the net, trying to spark a comeback late in the game. However, their efforts fell short against a resilient Columbus defense.

What It Means

This victory is significant for the Blue Jackets as they continue to strive for a spot in the playoffs. With strong performances from their key players, the Blue Jackets are building a foundation of consistency and confidence. Meanwhile, the Panthers will look to regroup after this defeat, needing to dig deep to find solutions for their defensive lapses in crucial moments of the game.

As the season progresses, the Blue Jackets will hope to carry this momentum forward, while the Panthers face challenges that they must overcome to remain competitive in a tight race for postseason positioning.

❓ FLA vs CBJ, answered

Who won Panthers vs Blue Jackets on March 5, 2026?

Blue Jackets won 4–2.

What was the final score of Panthers vs Blue Jackets?

The final score was Panthers 2, Blue Jackets 4.

Who scored for Panthers?

Niko Mikkola, Sam Bennett.

Who scored for Blue Jackets?

Mathieu Olivier (2), Boone Jenner, Ivan Provorov.

How did the Panthers goalie play?

Daniil Tarasov made 24 saves on 27 shots (.889 save percentage).

How did the Blue Jackets goalie play?

Jet Greaves made 26 saves on 28 shots (.929 save percentage).

Where is Panthers vs Blue Jackets played?

At Nationwide Arena in Columbus, the Blue Jackets home rink.

What is the Panthers vs Blue Jackets season series?

Season series tied 1–1 after 2 games.

Have a different question? Ask the Oracle — it answers from this season's box scores.