FINAL: Blue Jackets 3, Panthers 2 (SO)

The Blue Jackets extended their point streak to six games with a 3-2 shootout win against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night in Nationwide Arena.
Game in a Paragraph
With Columbus native Jack Roslovic making his debut, the Blue Jackets had much more energy than Tuesday night's loss, taking a 1-0 lead only to see Florida tie the score late in the second in a game that was just as even stats-wise as well through 40 minutes. A CBJ power-play goal early in the third broke the deadlock, but Florida answered with seven minutes to go. Alexandre Texier's electric shootout winner in the fourth round improved Columbus to 14-0-2 at home vs. Florida since Nov. 21, 2007.

Quote of the Game
CBJ head coach John Tortorella: "They got the full result tonight. Played much better throughout the game as far as our competitiveness, and I am glad we end up getting two (points), not just one. We've been in a lot of these.
CBJ Standouts

Quick Recap
It was a much better start for Columbus than Tuesday night, as two days after notching just three shots on goal in the opening frame, the Blue Jackets had a 13-9 edge in shots on goal and an 18-3 advantage in hits through the first 20 minutes.
Columbus also had a few chances in the early going to take the lead, and it finally came with just 2:57 left in the frame when Koivu got on the board. Eric Robinson made the play happen, though, chipping the puck out of the defensive zone, jetting past Radko Gudas to recollect it, seeing his 2-on-1 pass for Riley Nash get broken up, reclaiming the puck again and firing it across the crease for the onrushing Koivu to finish past goalie Chris Driedger from low on the left to make it 1-0.
The Blue Jackets had some chances to extend the lead throughout the second period, as Liam Foudy used his speed to get behind the defense but was stopped by the glove of Driedger, while the Panthers goalie also turned aside a shot by Cam Atkinson on a 2-on-1 with the teams skating 4-on-4.
Those missed opportunities -- and excellent saves by Driedger -- proved to be important when Florida scored with 2:46 left in the second to tie the score at 1. A Blue Jackets turnover allowed Anthony Duclair to speed to the net, and while Merzlikins made the first stop, Carter Verhaeghe pulled the rebound out of traffic and stuffed it past the CBJ goalie for his fourth goal in as many games this season.
Columbus then regained the lead with the team's second power-play goal of the year 6:21 into the third to take a 2-1 lead. It took just seven seconds of power-play time to score, as Domi won a draw back to Zach Werenski, who returned the puck to Domi for a one-timer from the right circle that got over the glove of Driedger.
Werenski nearly doubled the lead on a power play shortly after Domi's goal, but his shot hit the post and stayed out. That proved to be crucial when Florida scored with 7:04 to go to make it 2-2, as a shot from the left side by Anton Stralman hit Merzlikins' blocker and back before spilling into the crease for Eetu Luostarinen to deposit home.
Boone Jenner also hit the post with just over five minutes to play, and that meant overtime was in the cards for the second game in a row and the fourth time in the last five CBJ contests.
In overtime, Columbus was greeted by a third post as Cam Atkinson drilled a shot off the iron 28 seconds into the extra frame, and Merzlikins kept overtime going as he denied Luostarinen all alone.
Those near misses kept it a 2-2 game through 65 minutes, leading to a shootout for the second game in a row between the teams. There were no goals through the first three rounds, but Texier made a slick deke to beat Driedger between the legs in round four and Merzlikins stopped Patric Hornqvist to seal the win.
3 Takeaways
1. Much better: After pretty much everyone involved agreed the Blue Jackets were lucky to get a point in Tuesday's shootout loss to the Panthers, there was equal unanimity that this was an improved showing by Columbus, which looked much sharper from the beginning. "I think as a whole, we were great tonight," Domi said. "That's a full 60 minutes by our full roster. When we play that way, we're a tough team to beat. ... Coming off a real tough game as a whole, as a group, everyone was better and that's what you like to see." It wasn't perfect -- it rarely is -- but there was much more flow and offensive thrust out of the team's game, and were it not for those three meetings of rubber and iron, Columbus probably wouldn't have needed until the shootout to get the win.
2. Winning key areas: After Tuesday night's game, we focused on two areas the Blue Jackets have to better -- the power play and in shootouts. Columbus entered the game 1-for-19 this season on the power play and hadn't won a shootout either this year or last. So of course things were different just two nights later. The third-period power-play goal by Domi to give Columbus the lead was just what the doctor ordered and included some of the basics a good power play has to have -- a faceoff win, a good setup and then a one-timer to beat the goalie. "We talked about it," Domi said. "We've been struggling a little bit, but that's how it goes. Peaks and valleys. Sometimes you just have to simplify. It's a great pass by Z in my wheelhouse, and you have to hit the net and hit it as hard as you can." As for the shootout, Texier's goal was simpy magnificant, while Merzlikins finally emerged victorious in a skills competition. "It's like gambling," he said. "Either you or lucky or you are not. Tonight the luck was on my side so I am happy about that. I like them when I win. When I lose, I hate it."
3. Welcome home, Jack: He didn't get on the scoreboard -- though it seemed Tortorella tried to give him a chance, using him on the power play and in overtime -- but Roslovic had a solid effort playing on a line with Atkinson and Boone Jenner in his CBJ debut. The Columbus native centered the two Jackets veterans and played 14:14 of ice time while winning four of eight faceoffs. Roslovic said the jitters went away during the national anthem -- Leo does have a calm, soothing voice, doesn't he? -- and the newest Blue Jacket was happy to be part of a winning effort in his first crack at things. "I was super excited to come and just get my feet back under me and play a game," he said. "It's nice just being in the National Hockey League playing for points and playing with a team that has the right mentality."
Notable
Florida had a 35-31 overall edge in shots on goal. ... Merzlikins earned the first shootout win of his NHL career, while Columbus won a shootout for the first time since the playoff clincher vs. the Rangers in April 2019. ... For the fourth time in eight games, Columbus was in a 1-1 game after 40 minutes. ... Columbus is now 1-3 in overtime this year and 1-1 in shootouts.… For the first time this season, the team that scored first in a Blue Jackets game won. Columbus had been 0-2-3 when scoring first and 2-0-0 when giving up the opening goal. ... Columbus is 15-2-0-2 all-time at home vs. Florida. ... Dating back to last season, the Blue Jackets have picked up points in 18 straight games (11-0-7) against teams that typically reside in the Atlantic Division.
Roster Report
The Blue Jackets made one change to the skater lineup, inserting Roslovic for his CBJ debut and scratching Kevin Stenlund, who is battling an injury knock.
Up Next
Columbus is back in action immediately, playing Friday night in Chicago at 8 p.m. in the first meeting of the year vs. the Blackhawks.