Sam Bennett Sparks Florida Panthers’ Offense
· Yahoo Sports
When the Florida Panthers needed an offensive spark to snap a two-game losing streak, veteran forward Sam Bennett delivered in a big way. In a decisive 4-1 road win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday night, Bennett netted two goals, propelling Florida’s record to 10-7-2 and injecting fresh momentum into a roster grappling with early-season injuries.
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Finding His Scoring Touch
After a sluggish start to the 2026-27 campaign, Bennett has quickly rediscovered his scoring touch, tallying four goals in his last five games. Against Columbus, his knack for capitalizing in critical moments proved to be the difference-maker.
Following a scoreless opening period, Bennett wasted no time breaking the ice in the second frame. Just two minutes in, he converted on the Panthers’ first power play of the game. Anton Lundell navigated through traffic in the neutral zone and delivered a perfect feed to Bennett, who unleashed a shot past Blue Jackets goalie Cam Talbot. This goal not only got Florida on the board but also extended their streak of games with a power-play goal to seven of their last eight contests.
Later in the third period, with Columbus trailing 2-1 and pushing for an equalizer, Bennett showcased his composure under pressure. During a 4-on-4 sequence—sparked by roughing penalties to Matthew Tkachuk and Adam Fantilli—Bennett seized the opportunity, carrying the puck into the offensive zone and firing a slick wrist shot from the faceoff dot just under the crossbar. This insurance marker restored Florida’s two-goal cushion and effectively sealed the victory.
A Complete Team Effort
While Bennett provided the primary offensive punch, he received ample support across the lineup as reported by Yahoo Sports:
- Goaltending Excellence:Jacob Markström anchored the defensive effort, turning aside 37 of 38 shots, including three critical saves during a third-period Columbus power play, despite facing a 38-28 shot disadvantage.
- Franchise Milestones:Lars Eller doubled Florida’s lead in the second period with a sharp feed from Carter Verhaeghe, while Sam Reinhart iced the contest with an empty-netter, marking his 199th goal with the franchise and moving him past Jonathan Huberdeau for second place on the Panthers’ all-time goals list.
- Family History: By assisting on Bennett’s third-period goal, Matthew Tkachuk extended his active point streak to five games and his personal streak against Columbus to 16 consecutive outings. This achievement places him alongside his father, Hockey Hall of Famer Keith Tkachuk, as the first father-son duo in NHL history to each record a point streak of at least 15 games against the same franchise.
Reinforcements on the Way
Bennett’s resurgence comes at a crucial time for head coach Paul Maurice. Prior to Tuesday’s win, team captain Aleksander Barkov (knee) and veteran forward Brad Marchand (leg) both returned to the ice for a morning skate after being sidelined for nearly six weeks. Maurice indicated that both players are progressing well and could return to game action within the next two weeks.
With key stars nearing a return and Bennett heating up offensively, the Panthers will return home to Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday night to host the division-rival Detroit Red Wings before heading out for back-to-back road matchups against St. Louis and Dallas. If Bennett can maintain this scoring pace, Florida will be well-positioned to climb the Atlantic Division standings as their lineup returns to full strength.