Three Things: Shuffling The Lineup, Panthers Feast, Just Seven Games Left

Carter Verhaeghe's four-goal night lifted the Florida Panthers past the Columbus Blue Jackets, 7-0, on Saturday at Nationwide Arena.

Sam Reinhart had three points with a goal and two assists to continue a four-game point streak (two goals, six assists). Eric Staal had two points with a goal and an assist and Nick Cousins added the insurance marker.

Aleksander Barkov and Anthony Duclair each had three assists. Barkov is on a three-game point streak (zero goals, five assists). Matthew Tkachuk had an assist and has five points (three goals, two assists) in his last two games. Gustav Forsling, Aaron Ekblad, Brandon Montour, and Ryan Lomberg also had assists. Montour is on a three-game point streak (one goal, three assists). Ekblad is on a four-game point streak (zero goals, four assists).

Alex Lyon made all 21 saves to earn his first career shutout. Michael Hutchinson made 42 saves on 49 shots.

Florida won the season series over Columbus, 2-1. It's the sixth time this season the Blue Jackets have been shut out, and tonight’s game made it the most lopsided loss this year. The Blue Jackets have lost four straight.

Shuffling The Lineup

Another day brings with it more roster movement.

Since Patrik Laine suffered an injury in practice last Thursday (just nine days ago!), #CBJ has lost eight players to injury/illness: Laine, Roslovic, Pederson, Olivier, Gudbranson, Blankenburg, Boqvist, Merzlikins

You have to laugh, really. It's unreal.

— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) April 1, 2023

Joona Luoto and Justin Richards will be making their #CBJ debuts tonight. Players 326 and 327 in team history.

This will be the second NHL game for @AAABlueJackets alum Richards, the son of former Jackets head coach Todd Richards.

— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) April 1, 2023

Additionally, Adam Boqvist missed a second straight game due to illness, Jack Roslovic and Lane Pederson missed Saturday's game due to injuries sustained in Thursday's loss to the Boston Bruins, and Trey Fix-Wolansky missed a team meeting and was sent back to the Cleveland Monsters. Josh Dunne was recalled on Friday. Justin Richards, the son of former Blue Jackets head coach Todd Richards, made his Blue Jackets debut.

#cbj lineup is so thin right now. It wouldnt even qualify for an exhibition game per NHL rules. Only 6 veterans tonight. pic.twitter.com/Ictjjh3RaT

— Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre aka The Hyphenator (@JLGP34) April 1, 2023

Andrew Peeke was -6, a new franchise worst.

Panthers Feast

The Panthers are unquestionably the better team and showed that on Saturday night.

Verhaeghe's natural hat trick in the second period is the seventh different hat trick given up this season by Columbus, which leads the league. It was also his first career four-goal game. Verhaeghe is now the Panthers' leader in goals with 40, surpassing Tkachuk, who has 38 and came into the day with a two-goal cushion. Verhaeghe had four goals on a game-high eight shots and was +4 in 10:58.

With the win, the Panthers leapfrogged the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference as Pittsburgh lost at home to the Boston Bruins, 4-3.

Just Seven Games Left

There are seven games remaining in the Blue Jackets season with three on the road and four at home. Wins will be just as hard to come by as they face all but one team in playoff contention.

Sunday's tilt against the Ottawa Senators will come against another desperate team looking to sneak into the playoffs. The Senators now trail the Panthers and the second wild card spot by six points. 

The Blue Jackets currently find themselves 31st in the league, but tied with the basement-dwelling Chicago Blackhawks with 54 points. 

Back-to-Back

The Blue Jackets play the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, Apr. 2 at 6:00 pm ET from Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets are 0-2-0 against the Senators this season. The Senators lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-0, on Saturday at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.