National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Columbus 4, Florida 1
When: 7:00 PM ET, Friday, March 30, 2012
Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Referees: Mike Leggo, Frederic L'Ecuyer
Linesmen: David Brisebois, Don Henderson
Attendance: 17994

BLUE JACKETS 4, PANTHERS 1: Defenseman Nikita Nikitin notched his first career two-goal game and R.J. Umberger added a pair of goals as host Columbus stalled Florida's drive for a division title.

Allen York, an emergency recall earlier in the week, turned aside 30 shots to earn his second straight win - and second of his career - as the Blue Jackets beat the Panthers for the fifth consecutive time.

Umberger gave Columbus the early lead and capped off the scoring with an empty-netter for his sixth goal in five games to drop Southeast Division leader Florida to its fifth loss in six contests (1-2-3).

The Panthers hold a four-point edge over the Washington Capitals with four games to play, but have staggered down the stretch and failed to beat five teams eliminated from postseason contention.

Columbus broke on top less than four minutes into the game when Umberger finished a 2-on-1 to beat Jose Theodore.

The Blue Jackets extended the lead on Nikitin's first goal, a wrister from the point on the power play with just over eight minutes remaining in the second period.

Nikitin struck again with a wrister at 3:01 of the third period for a commanding 3-0 edge before Tomas Kopecky got Florida on the board at the eight-minute mark to end York's shutout bid.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Columbus had converted only 2 of 52 chances on the power play before Nikitin's first tally. It was Nikitin's third power-play goal of the season and sixth overall. ... Florida's last four losses prior to Friday came against Carolina, Edmonton, the New York Islanders and Minnesota. None of those teams will make the playoffs. ... Panthers D Brian Campbell tied his career high of 52 points with an assist on Kopecky's goal.
Top Game Performances
 
Florida   Columbus
Tomas Kopecky 1 Points Nikita Nikitin 3
Tomas Kopecky 1 Goals Nikita Nikitin 2
Dmitry Kulikov 1 Assists Nikita Nikitin 1
N/A Power Play Goals Nikita Nikitin 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Jose Theodore .893 Save Percentage Allen York .968
Jose Theodore 25 Saves Allen York 30
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Florida 31 1 0-3 4-5 12 32
Columbus 29 4 1-5 3-3 8 23
Upcoming Games
  • Columbus will play their next game on the road against St. Louis. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .231 after a win and .385 after a loss.
  • Florida will play their next game on the road against Detroit. The Panthers have a W/L % of .459 after a win and .488 after a loss.