COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Florida Panthers secured a tense 1-0 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 20, 2025, with Aleksander Barkov scoring just 29 seconds into overtime. This win snapped a two-game road losing streak for the Panthers and kept them level with the Toronto Maple Leafs at the top of the Atlantic Division.
In this highly competitive match at Nationwide Arena, Sergei Bobrovsky delivered a stellar performance with 25 saves, marking his 49th career shutout. Bobrovsky has now achieved three shutouts in his last seven starts, further solidifying his reputation as a reliable goaltender.
Barkov capitalized on a delay-of-game penalty committed by Kirill Marchenko, who inadvertently cleared the puck over the glass with just 29.7 seconds remaining in regulation. This penalty extended into the overtime period, allowing the Panthers to utilize a 4-on-3 power play. Barkov’s shot from the high slot cemented the win for Florida, with assists from Seth Jones and Sam Reinhart—Jones's primary assist marked his second point since joining the Panthers, while Reinhart celebrated his 40th assist of the season.
The Blue Jackets, who have now lost five consecutive games and find themselves in a precarious position as they cling to slim playoff hopes, had a disallowed goal from Boone Jenner earlier in the third period that could have turned the tide in their favor. Jenner's goal was overturned after a video review determined it was kicked in, leaving the Blue Jackets frustrated and pointing to a series of unfortunate events that have plagued their season.
“There’s nothing you can do, right?” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said regarding Marchenko's penalty. “Marchy’s trying to do the right thing. It’s just a bad break.”
Despite the setback, the Blue Jackets fought valiantly, with goalie Elvis Merzlikins making 27 saves in his return to the lineup after a brief absence to welcome his second child into the world. His comebacks have been commendable; he certainly showcased his abilities during this tight battle. “He competed his tail off. Made some huge saves, was calm, was a leader... I’m very impressed,” Evason stated after the game.
The Panthers displayed defensive fortitude throughout the match, effectively shutting down a Columbus offense that ranked 11th in the league with 3.15 goals per game. Bobrovsky’s strong performance played a critical role in limiting Columbus to just 25 shots on goal. He became the first Florida goalie to shut out Columbus in three consecutive starts dating back to April 2024, achieving a scoreless victory in their last meeting on March 6, 2025.
“It was a great game, a playoff-style game,” Bobrovsky noted after the win. “Our opponent played hard, played a good game. But we worked hard. We had a great focus, great concentration. We were together. We were tight and we just grinded it out. Big points for us.”
With the victory, Florida evidently remains focused on its goal of securing a favorable postseason position. The Panthers are tied with the Maple Leafs at the top of the division, leading the Tampa Bay Lightning by two points. However, they still face challenges as they have 13 games left in the season, some of which come in back-to-back matchups, and injury concerns are looming.
“We’re also in the battle,” Barkov said regarding their playoff contention. “It’s not over for us, at all. We need to get there as well; we need to change the mindset a little bit. We need to win games as well and battle for the playoffs. I think it was we were desperate today. We wanted to win, and we got the win.”
Next, the Panthers are set to play the Washington Capitals on March 22, 2025, at 5 p.m. The Capitals have already defeated the Panthers twice this season, but the stakes will be high with the playoffs drawing closer.
Looking forward, the Florida Panthers will need to maintain their momentum and refine their gameplay as they navigate through the remaining regular season games. Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets must regroup quickly before their upcoming contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In a league where every point counts, the Panthers demonstrated a critical edge over their opponents in a game characterized by tight defense and strategic play, showcased best through Bobrovsky’s impressive netminding abilities. As each game nears, both the contented Panthers and the desperate Blue Jackets will be looking to turn the tables in their favor.
