Panthers' Sergei Bobrovksy shuts out Blue Jackets 3-0 and moves to 10th on NHL career wins list

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 16 shots for his second shutout in four games and fourth of the season, and the Florida Panthers won their fifth straight, 3-0 over the Columbus Blue Jackets
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) goes after the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) goes after the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 16 shots for his second shutout in four games and fourth of the season, and the Florida Panthers won their fifth straight, 3-0 over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.

The win for Bobrovsky was his 423rd, moving the 36-year-old, 14-year veteran into a tie with Tony Esposito for 10th on the NHL’s career list. He did it in 742 games, 144 fewer than Esposito.

Aleksander Barkov assisted on Florida's first two goals and scored on an empty-netter. Sam Reinhart also had a goal and two assists for the Panthers, and Mackie Samoskevich scored the other goal.

Elvis Merzlikins made 33 saves for the Blue Jackets.

The Panthers got their first two goals on the power play. Reinhart converted in the first period and Samoskevich in the second.

Atlantic Division-leading Florida has won 10 of 12, with Bobrovsky in net for seven of those victories.

Takeaways

Blue Jackets: Columbus, currently in position for a wild-card playoff berth, is 5-4-1 in its last 10 games.

Panthers: Bobrovsky's prior shutout was a 3-0 victory over Calgary on Saturday night.

Key moment

After Merzlikins turned away a shot by Barkov, Samoskevich buried the rebound for a 2-0 lead.

Key stat

Florida outshot Columbus 36-16.

Up next

The Blue Jackets visit the Rangers while Florida hosts Buffalo on Saturday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (25) celebrates his goal with center Sam Bennett (9) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) throws a punch at Florida Panthers left wing Jonah Gadjovich (12) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) stops a shot by Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) grabs a shot by Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) and Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (25) go after the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) blocks a shot by Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Dmitri Voronkov (10) and Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) go after the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) stops a shot by Columbus Blue Jackets center Kent Johnson (91) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) deflects a shot on goal by Columbus Blue Jackets center Joseph LaBate during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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