SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Frank Vatrano scored two goals, Anthony Duclair had a pair of assists and the Florida Panthers defeated the Blue Jackets 4-2.
Sam Bennett and Radko Gudas also scored for the Panthers, who have won five straight games against the Blue Jackets and gone 6-0-1 in their last seven meetings.
Vatrano’s second goal was an empty-netter at 18:38 of the third after he was stopped on a penalty shot earlier in the period.
Florida netminder Sergei Bobrovsky made 34 saves.
Elvis Merzlikins turned back 35 shots for the Blue Jackets.
Oliver Bjorkstrand got his team-leading 15th goal and Zac Dalpe also scored for Columbus, which has lost three straight.