George Richards, FHN Publisher
Fans of the Florida Panthers were not heard leaving the BB&T Center following Sunday’s win over the Blue Jackets chanting “We’re No. 1!”
And why would they have been?
How about, for the time being anyway, it’s true.
By beating Columbus 3-0 on Sunday, the Panthers won their sixth consecutive game and not only took sole possession of first place in the Central Division but in the entire NHL.
Heading into Monday, no NHL team outside of Broward County has 56 points.
Days like these don’t come around here too often.
Chant if you want to.
”I think the harder you work, the more fun you’re going to have,” Joel Quenneville said after the game. “Playing the right way is the result of working hard. The game is all about winning, and that’s the fun part.”
On Sunday, the Panthers had trouble shaking a Columbus team that looked like it had plenty of fight left despite its place in the Central Division standings.
The Jackets have now lost their past three and seven of eight with it looking more and more like there will be big changes coming on and off the ice in Columbus.
The two teams were scoreless going into the second as both appeared to be fine just playing a good, old fashioned road game after playing the night before.
Neither team had a lot of scoring chances and, give the goalies credit, both Chris Driedger and Joonas Korpisalo were just fine.
Florida finally got on the scoreboard at 1:52 of the second when Sasha Barkov ripped a shot past Korpisalo after Alexandre Texier turned the puck over in the defensive zone.
MacKenzie Weegar picked it off, got it to Patric Hornqvist who quickly spotted Barkov and that was that.
The Panthers did not get on the board again until midway through the third when Frank Vatrano got loose, drove in and zipped one through with 12 minutes remaining.
With 8:40 left, defenseman Gus Forlsing all but ended it by scoring off a pass from Barkov to make it 3-0 on Florida’s 34th shot of the night.
”Real good pass from Barky, he is such a good player and always has his head up and finds a player,” Forlsing said. “I just had to walk in there and shoot.”
Driedger has been challenged much worse in past games, but saw some action here as Columbus did throw 32 shots his way.
”I don’t think it was as much me as it was a team effort tonight,” Driedger said. “We were incredible defensively. The first two periods, we locked things down and I really didn’t see anything until their final push.”
He turned them all aside, giving him his second shutout of the season and third of his short career further boosting his stock as the trade deadline approaches next week.
More on that another time.
For now, the Panthers are living in the moment.
The Panthers polished off this short, four-game homestand by sweeping Detroit and Columbus, two teams they have owned through the 2021 season.
Sunday’s win was Florida’s fifth in six meetings against Columbus and the Panthers have at least a point in all six games.
Things are about to get a little tougher.
”Tough, tough trip,” Quenneville said.
Florida will take off on its longest road trip of the season on Monday, playing two at Carolina starting Tuesday night.
The Panthers will then travel to Dallas and Tampa Bay before returning home April 19 for the final two-game set against Columbus.
If they are still atop the NHL standings when they come home, we might just have something here.
”It feels great, you can see it in our locker room how much fun everyone is having doing this,” Barkov said.
“Coming to the rink, playing the games and giving everything we have is why we’re having so much success. Everyone enjoys it, everyone is having fun. … We play the right way and we enjoy playing the right way.”
GEORGE’S THREE STARS OF THE GAME
ON DECK: PANTHERS AT HURRICANES
When: Tuesday, 7
Where: PNC Arena; Raleigh, NC
Season series: Carolina leads 3-1
TV/Radio: Florida Sports/560-AM