Columbus Blue Jackets at Florida Panthers

NHL game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers on Mar 12, 2026. Final score: Columbus Blue Jackets 1, Florida Panthers 2.

StatusFinal
DateMar 12, 2026
VenueAmerant Bank Arena
Columbus Blue Jackets score1
Florida Panthers score2

Shot charts, expected goals (xG), Game Score and advanced box scores for this game are available on Hockey Alchemy.

Three Stars by Game Score

Ranked by Game Score, which rolls goals, assists, shot quality, play-driving and penalties into one number — so the best player is chosen by the box score, not by a vote.

PlayerPosGASOGTOIxGGame Score
1stMason MarchmentL01420:190.852.00
2ndSam ReinhartC11317:520.671.80
3rdMatthew TkachukL01216:080.551.10

Scoring Summary

TimeTeamGoalAssistsStrengthScore (Columbus Blue Jackets–Florida Panthers)
2nd 13:01CBJAdam FantilliMason Marchment5v51–0
3rd 01:28FLASam BennettSam Reinhart, Mackie Samoskevich5v41–1
OT 02:20FLASam ReinhartMatthew Tkachuk, Mike Benning4v31–2

Team Comparison

Columbus Blue JacketsFlorida Panthers
Goals12
Shots on goal3121
Expected goals (xG)3.593.29
High-danger shots1313
Corsi %50.9%49.1%
Power play0/22/2
Faceoff %58.5%41.5%
Hits1323
Blocks1017
Giveaways1323
Takeaways75

Columbus Blue Jackets Skaters

PlayerPosGAPSOGTOIxGGame Score
Mason MarchmentL011420:190.852.00
Mathieu OlivierR000115:050.260.79
Charlie CoyleC000118:490.090.75
Adam FantilliC101219:310.310.71
Zach WerenskiD000528:310.410.51
Jake ChristiansenD000112:000.050.29
Denton MateychukD000317:280.120.24
Dante FabbroD000121:550.020.24
Boone JennerC000014:070.070.18
Kirill MarchenkoR000217:540.290.14
Dmitri VoronkovL000010:180.000.05
Ivan ProvorovD000222:340.10-0.03
Sean MonahanC000214:450.14-0.09
Kent JohnsonC000213:480.24-0.10
Isac LundeströmC000111:200.01-0.12
Conor GarlandR000215:210.08-0.13
Cole SillingerC000113:410.27-0.20
Damon SeversonD000118:060.16-0.43

Florida Panthers Skaters

PlayerPosGAPSOGTOIxGGame Score
Sam ReinhartC112317:520.671.80
Matthew TkachukL011216:080.551.10
Sam BennettC101216:100.620.94
Mike BenningD011016:490.000.77
Mackie SamoskevichR011115:190.210.32
Niko MikkolaD000118:290.010.11
Eetu LuostarinenC000115:080.120.09
Jesper BoqvistC000112:040.170.09
Aaron EkbladD000222:520.070.07
Luke KuninC000312:360.410.06
A.J. GreerL000018:440.10-0.00
Cole ReinhardtL000014:590.01-0.07
Vinnie HinostrozaC000010:490.01-0.09
Evan RodriguesC000117:290.45-0.16
Tomas NosekL000016:040.01-0.17
Gustav ForslingD000121:070.04-0.38
Dmitry KulikovD000121:090.02-0.51
Donovan SebrangoD000220:440.05-0.84

Goaltending

GoalieTeamSVSASV%GSAxDecision
Elvis MerzlikinsColumbus Blue Jackets192190.5%1.20O
Sergei BobrovskyFlorida Panthers303196.8%2.35W

Analysis

The Florida Panthers defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 2–1 on Mar 12, 2026, a one-goal game.

Florida Panthers generated 3.29 expected goals to Columbus Blue Jackets's 3.59 — Columbus Blue Jackets owned the better of the chances but Florida Panthers took the game, the kind of split that usually means finishing or goaltending decided it; by expected goals it was close to a coin flip.

Mason Marchment led all skaters with a Game Score of 2.0 on 1 assist, 4 shots on goal.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 of 31, worth 2.35 goals saved above expected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Columbus Blue Jackets vs Florida Panthers game?

The Florida Panthers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 2–1 on Mar 12, 2026.

What was the final score?

The final score was Florida Panthers 2, Columbus Blue Jackets 1.

Who was the best player in this game?

By Game Score — a single-number summary of everything a skater did — Mason Marchment led all skaters at 2.0, on 0G, 1A and 4 shots on goal.

Which team deserved to win by expected goals?

Florida Panthers generated 3.29 expected goals and Columbus Blue Jackets generated 3.59, so Columbus Blue Jackets created the better chances. The scoreboard went the other way, which points to finishing or goaltending.

What were the shot totals?

Columbus Blue Jackets put 31 shots on goal and Florida Panthers put 21. High-danger chances went 13 to 13.

How did the goaltenders play?

Elvis Merzlikins stopped 19 of 21 (1.2 goals saved above expected); Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 of 31 (2.35 goals saved above expected).