Laine scores again, Blue Jackets top Panthers for fourth straight win

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Patrik Laine scored to extend his point streak to 11 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 6-3 win against the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena on Thursday.

Laine has scored 21 points (13 goals, eight assists) during his streak, which is the longest active in the NHL.
J-F Berube made 39 saves in his third consecutive start for the Blue Jackets (27-23-1), who have won four in a row and seven of eight.
"I just loved how we competed from the opening shift," Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. "I thought they kept their poise. That was a total team effort. This team has been a handful for us, and coming in here and keeping this thing going was great."

Columbus lost to Florida 9-2 and 8-4 this season.
"We had a different approach than we had in that (8-4) game, and we had to learn something from it," Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner said. "It was embarrassing, but we're just focused on building on our game the last few weeks. I thought we did that and we got a big win."
Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and an assist for the Panthers (35-12-5), who have allowed 12 goals in two straight home losses. Jonas Johansson made 22 saves in his first game since being claimed off waivers from the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 13.
"It's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows and all that stuff," Florida defenseman MacKenzie Weegar said. "Losing might be a good thing for our team. We're going to face adversity at times throughout the year, and this is one of them."
Weegar gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead at 8:33 of the first period. Aleksander Barkov circled the net before making a backdoor pass to Weegar, who shot into an open net.
Laine tied it 1-1 at 15:05 when he received a pass from Jakub Voracek on a 2-on-1 and beat Johansson glove side from the right hash marks.
Jenner gave Columbus a 2-1 lead at 9:32 of the second period when he redirected Vladislav Gavrikov's wrist shot from the point.

Gabriel Carlsson made it 3-1 at 3:12 of the third period with a one-timer from the left circle. It was his first game since Jan. 31,
Huberdeau got Florida within 3-2 at 6:52, but Columbus regained the momentum with two goals in a 10-second span.
Cole Sillinger shot short side on a 3-on-2 to make it 4-2 at 9:47, and Justin Danforth deflected a point shot from Adam Boqvist at 9:57 to extend the lead to 5-2.
"We need more energy," Huberdeau said. "I thought we looked a little tired today."

Sam Bennett made it 5-3 at 13:41, jamming in a loose puck in the crease with Johansson pulled for an extra skater.
Oliver Bjorkstrand scored an empty-net goal at 14:01 for the 6-3 final.
"We just played and we didn't let anything rattle us," Larsen said. "To me, that was the difference. Tonight we were aggressive. I liked how we played. This is something we've got to continue to do."
NOTES:Berube is the second goalie to win his first three decisions for the Blue Jackets, joining Steve Mason (2008-09). … Jenner's goal was his 143rd for Columbus, moving past Nick Foligno for third in its history. Rick Nash is first with 289, and Cam Atkinson is second with 213. … Carlsson was in the lineup in place of defenseman Zach Werenski, who didn't make the trip after sustaining an upper-body injury in a 4-3 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Werenski is not expected to play at the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. … Huberdeau has an assist in nine straight games, a Panthers record, and has scored 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in that span. … Florida defenseman Olli Juolevi was minus-1 in 11:38 of ice time after missing 12 games with a lower-body injury.