The Columbus Blue Jackets have made significant strides defensively in recent weeks and will look to build on that progress when they host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
After a 7-3 home loss to the Panthers on Oct. 13, Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness lamented the obvious — that allowing 4.20 goals per game was not sustainable. At the time, the number was 30th in the league.
In the 10 games since, Columbus has been much improved, allowing 2.60 goals per game.
“The thing that has turned this thing around is hard work and consistency shift after shift and period after period,” Bowness said.
Columbus dropped a 5-2 decision to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday but has won three straight at home. The Blue Jackets fell to 1-5-0 on the road.
Left winger Matthew Knies said the kind of sustained effort shown throughout their game continues to get better after Blue Jackets leading scorer Kent Johnson (eight goals, 16 points) and Zach Werenski had goals against the Sabres.
“I think it (was) a full 60 of not competing hard enough,” Knies said. “We did a great job the last four games of competing for a full 60.”
Columbus forward Charlie Coyle, who has three goals and 10 assists on the season, sees areas where the team can progress even further.
“We’ve got to bring the little details that we have been missing,” Coyle said. “The forecheck needs to be tight. We need to talk more and help each other out. Simple things like that will lead to our transition and limit theirs.”
The Panthers dropped a 4-1, penalty-marred road contest to the Boston Bruins on Sunday. Florida handed Boston nine power-play opportunities, while getting five of their own. The loss was Florida’s second in a row.
“Special teams have been pretty big for us lately,” Florida center Carter Verhaeghe said. “I feel like every game there seems to be a lot of penalties for us on the power play and (penalty kill).”
Florida eliminated Boston from the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2023 and 2024. Aaron Ekblad anticipated a physical contest, but expected more from the Panthers’ special teams units.
“At the end of the day we have an elite power play and an elite penalty kill,” Ekblad said. “So that doesn’t rattle us.”
Matthew Tkachuk assisted on Verhaeghe’s first-period goal. Tkachuk has four goals and 22 assists on the season.
“He’s been great all year,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said of Tkachuk. “The quality of his game is not just points, it’s all the other things he does. He’s been very reliable for us.”
Columbus forward Sean Monahan (lower body) exited Friday’s loss after blocking a shot and did not practice Sunday, but said he would be available against the Panthers. Dmitri Voronkov (upper body) is also expected to be available Tuesday.
Florida center Anton Lundell returned from injury Sunday against Boston, logging 16:33 of ice time. Sandis Vilmanis (upper body) is expected to miss some time after sustaining an injury in Saturday’s 4-3 loss at Washington on a hit by Capitals forward Tom Wilson that resulted in a five-minute major and game misconduct.