Bennett Scores Twice, Markström Holds Firm as Panthers Edge Blue Jackets 4-1

Florida's 4-1 win in Columbus looked comfortable on the scoreboard, but the game was closer to the Blue Jackets' than the final tells. Sam Bennett's two goals and a sharp night from Jacob Markström were the difference, and the Panthers will take that trade every time.

Bennett's second multi-goal game and a deeper scoring group

Bennett potted two, his second multi-goal game of the season. The Panthers have now played 19 games, and the scoring has spread out in a way that matters for a team that doesn't always score in bunches. According to StatMuse's count, Florida has produced 13 individual multi-goal performances from seven different players. Brady Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe lead that group with three apiece. Bennett and Sam Reinhart each have two, and rookies Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Sandis Vilmanis each have one.

That depth is the real story here. A team that relies on one line to score will struggle when that line goes cold, while a team with seven players capable of multi-goal games can keep pressure on opponents over a full season. Florida still sits 14th in the NHL with 60 goals, and its goal differential is only plus-4. That's not a dominant profile, but it explains how the Panthers have stayed in fifth place in the Atlantic Division and in a second wild-card spot without running away from the pack.

The full result is available in the NHL game summary.

Markström was the reason the scoreboard looks this way

Markström's night deserves more credit than the final score suggests. He turned away 38 of the 39 shots he faced, and it was arguably the strongest performance of his return to Florida. That's the fifth win of the season for the veteran, and it came in a game where the Panthers were not the better possession team.

Columbus controlled much of the territory. The home side won 61.4 per cent of the faceoffs, and it out-hit a Florida group that is usually one of the more physical teams in the league, 27-24. For stretches the Blue Jackets carried the play and kept the visitors pinned in their own zone. Florida's margin came down to special teams. The Panthers got their one power-play opportunity and converted it, while Columbus failed on its own chance. A single power-play goal can decide a game that's otherwise tight, and this one was.

That's a pattern worth watching. Teams that get outshot and still win usually need a goaltender playing at a high level, and a clean power play. Florida got both on Tuesday, but it's not a formula you can count on over 82 games.

Injury watch: Barkov and Marchand inching closer

The best news of the trip may have come off the ice. Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand are both trending toward a return by the end of November. Both took part in the team's morning skate in Columbus, and head coach Paul Maurice gave a "two-week" timeframe for their comeback. Both are recovering from lower-body injuries, and the Panthers have good reason to be careful with them.

The recent history is a reminder of why patience matters. Barkov returned after a full year away and was hurt again in only his second game back. Marchand had offseason surgery and suffered a setback in his second game as well. When a player has already had two setbacks in quick succession, easing him back in is usually the smarter approach, even if it means a few more games on the sideline. When both are healthy, Florida's top six and its overall identity look very different, and both are multi-time Stanley Cup champions who change how opponents match up against them.

Vilmanis is the other name to track. He exited last Saturday's game after a hit from behind by Tom Wilson and is listed as day-to-day. As of now, there's no further update on his status. Losing a young scorer who has already found the net would hurt the depth that has been working so well this season, so the Panthers will be watching his progress closely.

What's next: Detroit comes to Amerant Bank Arena

Florida returns home for a single game on Thursday night against the Detroit Red Wings at Amerant Bank Arena. The Red Wings beat the Panthers 5-3 earlier this month in Detroit, so this is a chance to even that series on home ice. After a road stretch that has been strong on the scoreboard but not on the shot clock, the Panthers need to show they can control play for a full 60 minutes and not just hang on for a win.

My read is that the key question for Florida is whether Bennett's two-goal night and the scoring depth can keep the offense afloat while Barkov and Marchand work their way back. If the Panthers can get the puck moving, Markström can rest on a night he doesn't need to steal the game. If Columbus-style territorial pressure returns, the Panthers will need another strong showing from their goaltender to stay in the race for that wild-card spot.