The Tkachuks celebrate Brady’s goal with Seth Jones. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
It was the type of match that Florida fans have been waiting for since the regular season started. The Tkachuk brothers’ breakout performance was the story of the game as the Panthers’ offense finally got rolling against the Blue Jackets. Six games into the season, some fans were dissatisfied with how the team looked, and the struggle for goal scoring was becoming a cause for concern. However, in Columbus, the Cats finally got it going and showed why they sport one of the most fearsome forward groups in the NHL. After Sam Reinhart got the power play going against Buffalo, the man advantage continued to roll in Columbus. It was the kind of game Florida desperately needed, and it showed how high the ceiling could be.
Tkachuk Connection:
HC Paul Maurice committed to the Jail Line of B. Tkachuk-Bennett-M. Tkachuk for a full game in Columbus. Surprisingly, they didn’t end up in the penalty box immediately. Matthew was the only one from that line to get called for a penalty (hooking) midway through the first period. But the chemistry that was on display when the Tkachuks played on a line for Team USA was out in full force against the Blue Jackets. Brady became the first player in NHL history to score a natural hat trick with his brother assisting on all three goals. The team finished with 9 points, with Matthew putting up 5 assists, and Brady finished with 3 goals & 1 assist. Matthew became the first Panther to ever have 4 assists in a regular season period. Brady became the 4th player in franchise history to score his first three goals with the club in the same game. He also had the third-fastest hat trick in Panthers’ history at just over eight minutes. When Brady spoke with the media afterward, he talked about returning the favor to Matthew to help set him up to score.
Offense Rolling:
The power play has looked anemic through the first five games of the season with just a singular power play goal. Sam Reinhart finally got it going on Monday against the Sabers, where he tallied 2 PPGs for his first two goals of the season. Against the Blue Jackets, the power play looked like the touch of death a lot of fans expected given the personnel available. Between the second and third periods, the Cats scored four consecutive power play goals from Brady x2, Verhaeghe, and Reinhart. If the Panthers want to be successful while Barkov and Marchand are out, they need their big players to get going. It took nearly seven games, but it looks like something has finally clicked with the offense, and the goals followed suit. One gripe fans still have is that Florida has yet to score the first goal in any of the games they’ve played. Hopefully that’ll be something that will change soon. After allowing the first goal against Columbus, Florida responded heavily in the second period, where they left the middle frame with a 4-1 lead. Reinhart and Verhaeghe scored a combined three goals in the third period en route to the eventual 7-3 win.
Unsung Hero:
Seth Jones has quietly been having one of the best seasons on this Panthers squad. There’s already been several nights where he’s been Florida’s best player on the ice, and last season showed how integral he was to keeping that injury squad afloat. Before he went out with a broken collarbone, Florida was one point out of a playoff spot despite having an injury report the length of a CVS receipt. This year he’s currently 2nd on the team in points (7) behind Matthew Tkachuk (10) and is a point-per-game player. His points are split between 1G and 6A while averaging the most TOI at 25:52 and playing in all situations. Arguably, trading for Jones might’ve been one of Zito’s best moves, which is saying a lot given his track record. HC Paul Maurice noted how Jones spent all offseason in Florida training with Aaron Ekblad, and he’s come back stronger and faster than last year. When Brady spoke with the media, he said, “He’s been excellent all year. He’s played some big minutes for our team.” Jones was quick to give credit to his teammates, telling the media, “I’ve played with a lot of great players this year. I try to do my part and be the best player I can be out there – whether it’s 5-on-5 or special teams. I’m making some plays to some great players, and they’re putting the puck in the net.” A great bounce-back game after a disappointing loss to Buffalo has the Cats feeling good as they return home to take on Vancouver and Seattle.