Ekblad Racks Up Three Helpers in Florida's Win Over Columbus
The Panthers defenceman never fired a puck at the net, yet Florida left Nationwide Arena with the 4-1 road win.
Aaron Ekblad finished the night with three assists, all without a shot on goal, as the Florida Panthers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 on the road.
He played 20:55 over 26 shifts, third among Florida's 18 skaters and third among the team's six defencemen. Two of his assists came at even strength and one on the power play. He finished plus 2, with no penalty minutes and one giveaway.
The three points are a big jump from his season line. Coming in, he had one goal and seven assists in 17 games, so this single night accounts for more than a third of his assists. His ice time was close to his usual 21.1 minutes a game.
Florida arrived on a two-game skid at 9-7-2. This win stopped the slide, and Ekblad's passing helped do it.
More from this game
- Hidden InsightsMarkstrom Keeps Columbus Off the Board as Blue Jackets Fire Away
- Game SummaryMarkstrom Holds the Fort as Florida Leaves Columbus 4-1 Winners
- Strong Player PerformanceEkblad Is in on Both Panthers Goals in Columbus
- Game PreviewPanthers Bring Better Chances to a Columbus Barn That Rarely Gives