COLUMBUS, Ohio (Interstat) — Mathieu Olivier scored twice, including the clinching empty-net goal, and the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Florida Panthers 4-2 on Thursday night at Nationwide Arena. Olivier’s second goal, with 5:42 remaining in the third period, sealed the win after the Panthers had cut a three-goal deficit to one. Ivan Provorov had a goal and two assists for Columbus, and Boone Jenner also scored. Goaltender Jet Greaves made 26 saves. Sam Bennett and Niko Mikkola scored third-period goals for Florida, which lost its third straight. Daniil Tarasov stopped 23 shots. The Blue Jackets improved to 32-29, while the Panthers fell to 30-32. The teams meet again next Thursday in Florida.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Interstat) — Mathieu Olivier scored twice, including a critical third-period goal, and Ivan Provorov had a goal and two assists to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Thursday night. The Blue Jackets, who never trailed, improved to 32-29 and moved three games above .500 for the first time this season. The Panthers fell to 30-32 with their third consecutive loss. Columbus goaltender Jet Greaves made 26 saves to earn the win, while Florida’s Daniil Tarasov stopped 23 of the 26 shots he faced. The Blue Jackets opened the scoring at 5:08 of the first period on a power play. With Florida’s Mackie Samoskevich serving a holding penalty, Provorov collected a pass from Sean Monahan and fired a wrist shot from the point that beat Tarasov for his seventh goal of the season. Kirill Marchenko also assisted. Columbus extended its lead late in the second period. With heavy traffic in front of the Florida net, Olivier deflected a point shot from Egor Zamula past Tarasov at the 20:50 mark. Provorov recorded the secondary assist for his second point of the night. The Panthers, who were held to just 12 shots through the first two periods, showed life early in the third. Defenseman Niko Mikkola cut the deficit to 2-1 at 7:08, tipping a point shot from Aaron Ekblad. Sam Reinhart earned an assist on the play. Columbus responded just over three minutes later to restore its two-goal cushion. Boone Jenner took a pass from Kent Johnson and snapped a wrist shot from the slot for his ninth goal of the season at 10:41. Florida again pulled within a goal on a power play. With Columbus’s Kirill Marchenko off for holding, the Panthers sustained heavy pressure. Sam Bennett finally capitalized, wiring a wrist shot from the right circle past Greaves for his 23rd goal at 17:44. Ekblad and Matthew Tkachuk assisted. Any hope of a Florida comeback was extinguished by Olivier just 1:34 later. The rugged winger from Biloxi, Mississippi, took a feed from Charlie Coyle, drove wide, and snapped a shot from a sharp angle that found space over Tarasov’s shoulder at 19:18. Provorov picked up his third point with another assist, sealing a three-point night. The Panthers pulled Tarasov for an extra attacker with under two minutes to play but could not generate another quality chance against Greaves and the Columbus defense. The game was a penalty-filled affair, with the teams combining for eight infractions. Florida went 1 for 4 on the power play, while Columbus was 1 for 3. The victory continued a strong stretch for the Blue Jackets, who have won three of their last four games. The loss extended a difficult period for the Panthers, who have been outscored 14-5 during their three-game skid. Olivier, named the game’s top star, now has three goals in his last four games after scoring just once in his previous nine contests. His physical presence, which included a hit on Florida’s Niko Mikkola, complemented his offensive output. Provorov’s three-point night was his highest total since Jan. 24. The defenseman from Yaroslavl, Russia, also logged five hits and blocked two shots in a comprehensive performance. For Florida, Bennett’s goal was a bright spot on a night where the team’s top offensive weapons were largely held in check. Reinhart, Tkachuk, and Carter Verhaeghe combined for 12 shots but were unable to solve Greaves at even strength. The Blue Jackets’ defensive structure limited Florida’s high-danger chances for much of the night, a fact reflected in the shot totals, which favored the Panthers 28-26 but were heavily skewed by their 16-shot third-period push. The game’s result defied some pregame analytics, as statistical models gave Florida a slight probability to win despite Columbus being installed as a 1.5-goal favorite on the betting line. The total of six goals surpassed the over/under line of 6.5. Columbus will look to continue its push on Saturday when it hosts the Utah Mammoth. The Panthers, meanwhile, face a quick turnaround, traveling to Detroit to play the Red Wings on Friday night. The two teams will meet again in Florida next Thursday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Interstat) — Two teams jockeying for position in the tightly packed Eastern Conference standings will meet Thursday when the Columbus Blue Jackets host the Florida Panthers at Nationwide Arena. Both clubs enter with identical 30-win records, though the Blue Jackets (30-29-0) hold a slight edge in points over the Panthers (30-30-0) in the overall league standings. The matchup is the second of three regular-season meetings. Florida won a wild 7-6 overtime decision at home on Dec. 6. The Panthers arrive after a frustrating 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders on Sunday, a game in which they surrendered a third-period lead. Center Sam Bennett was a bright spot in that defeat, scoring two goals. He has been a key offensive contributor lately, registering two goals and four shots on March 1 after a three-shot, 12-penalty minute outing against Tampa Bay on Feb. 5. Columbus is riding high after a dramatic 5-4 overtime victory against the New York Rangers on Monday. Right wing Kirill Marchenko led the charge with two goals and an assist, including four shots on net. He has three goals in his last two games, providing a critical spark for the Blue Jackets’ attack. Florida’s recent form has been inconsistent, with a 3-6-1 record in its last 10 games, including the recent loss to the Islanders. Columbus has been more stable, going 6-4-0 in its last 10, highlighted by the quality road win at Madison Square Garden. The game kicks off a crucial home-and-home set between the clubs. They will meet again in Florida next Thursday, March 12. For the Panthers, this begins a four-game road trip. The Blue Jackets play the second contest of a three-game homestand before heading out for a two-game road swing. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT.