Bobrovsky lifts Panthers past Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS --Sergei Bobrovsky made 38 saves for the Florida Panthers in a 4-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday.

The Panthers (16-5-4) have one regulation loss in seven games (4-1-2) and are 8-2-0 in their past 10 road games.
"It was a good game definitely," Bobrovsky said. "I faced lots of shots, and the guys really helped me there. And I knew that Columbus is a really good, hard working [team] and they're going to put the puck on the net and work around the net."
Oliver Bjorkstrand and Michael Del Zotto scored, and Joonas Korpisalo made 29 saves for the Blue Jackets (10-12-5). Columbus has two wins in its past nine games (2-6-1).
"Offensively I thought after the first few minutes of the game, where it was a struggle, we started to play the right way," Columbus coach John Tortorella said. "I thought we moved on. I hated the second period defensively. Hated how we defended in the second period. Hated how soft we were in the second period defensively.
"On the other end, we played really well offensively but we just can't defend that way, period, in that that second period. We cannot defend that way."
Juho Lammikko scored at 4:59 of the first period to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Bobrovsky made a left skate save on Cam Atkinson, who had shorthanded breakaway at 7:45 of the first.
"He was unreal tonight," Lammikko said of Bobrovsky. "A lot of huge saves, especially in the third. He gets the lead, and it was fun to watch him. It was awesome."

Patric Hornqvist tipped Aaron Ekblad's shot for a power-play goal at 2:45 of the second period to make it 2-0. Del Zotto scored at 5:45 of the second to get the Blue Jackets within 2-1. Owen Tippett made it 3-1 at 18:12 of the second with a power-play goal.
"We had a tremendous start to the game," Florida coach Joel Quenneville said. "I thought we did a lot of great things. I thought we had a good second period and then we made some of the most unbelievable turnovers, giveaways, lack of playing the right way that I've ever seen. So that was tough to watch the last part of the game. We'll take the win."

The teams end the two-game set here Thursday.
Kevin Stenlund and Patrik Laine each hit the post in the second period. Nick Foligno failed to convert a goalmouth pass from Atkinson with Bobrovsky out of position in the third, and Del Zotto missed a rebound attempt.
"We had a lot of chances," Atkinson said. "It was one of those nights where we just couldn't bury it for whatever reason, but I thought we played a pretty decent game. [Bobrovsky] made some good saves but obviously we need to bury a few of our chances."
Bjorkstrand made it 3-2 it at 11:38 of third period with a redirect of a shot by Zach Werenski. Carter Verhaeghe scored at 19:37 into an empty net for the 4-2 final.
NOTES:Panthers forwardJonathan Huberdeau had an assist on Hornqvist's goal to extend his point streak to four games (two goals, four assists). … Blue Jackets forward Jack Roslovic played his 200th NHL game.