Jackets No Match For Panthers

FLORIDA
The Columbus Blue Jackets came into town to try and snap the Panthers 3 game winning streak and except for the heroics of goalie Jamie Storr they just might of accomplished it. Storr was stellar in net and had to be as the Jackets kept pace with the Panthers all game. Florida did out shoot the Jackets 33-29 but it wasn't for a lack of trying of the part of the Jackets.

The first period was the undoing of Columbus. The Panthers got four unaswered goals in the first and it was all they would need as they cruised to their fourth consecutive victory in a 6-2 win.

Patrik Stefan scored his 25th and 26th goals of the season in the first. His 25th came at 2:29 and his second goal of the game was at 9:31. Just over a minute later at 10:56 Stephan Weiss scored his 14th of the year and Mike Cirillo got into the action while the Panthers were on the power play by scoring his 8th of the year at 17:53 as the Jackets looked like easy prey for the Panthers as they went into the locker room with a commanding 4-0 lead after the first frame.

Columbus got the only goal of the second period to close the game to 4-1 at 14:28 on Stacy Roests 17th goal of the year. Josef Malichar and Cale Hulse fought for a second time in the game and were both ejected at 6:01. These two fought in the first as well and both fights were draws with neither getting the better of the other.

Ivan Novoseltsev got into the action early in the third at 1:54 when he notched his 26th of this years campaign. The Jackets Deron Quint made it 5-2 on an unassisted effort at the 14 minute mark but it was just way too little and too late. Stephan Weiss was name the first star and scored his second of the game at 16:27 to finish of the scoreing.

The Panthers put their 4 game winning streak on the line tomorrow night against the Ducks.