NHL Game Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets at Florida Panthers with Line Combinations 3/6/2025

Columbus Blue Jackets (30-23-8, 68 Pts) at Florida Panthers (38-21-3, 79 Pts)

Venue: Amerant Bank Arena
Date: Thursday, March 6
Time: 7:00 pm EST
TV: ESPN+/FDSN OH/SCRIPPS
Radio:
Columbus: 97.1 FM Ohio,
Florida; AM 560 Sports Florida

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:

Columbus: +1.5 ML +250
Florida: -1.5 ML -300
O/U 6.5

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Columbus Blue Jackets Notes:

The Blue Jackets had their four-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday with a 6-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. They are 5-4-1 in their last ten games averaging 3.60 goals per game while allowing 3.30 goals per game. They hold the wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Florida Panthers Notes:

The defending Stanley Cup champions have won four straight with the most recent win coming on Monday with a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. They are averaging 3.25 goals per game while allowing 1.25 goals per game.

Columbus Blue Jackets Lineup:

Voronov-Fantilli-Marchenko
van Riemsdyk-Jenner-K.Johnson
Aston-Reese-Danforth-Olivier
Chinakhov-Kuraly-LaBanc

Werenski-Fabbro
Mateychuk-Provorov
Christiansen-Severson

Merzlikins
Tarasov

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Columbus Hockey – Inside The Rink

Florida Panthers Lineup:

Verhaeghe-Barkov-Reinhart
Samoskevich-Bennett-Rodrigues
Luostarinen-Lundell-Boqvist
Greer-Nosek-Gadjovich

Forsling-Ekblad
Mikkola-Jones
Schmidt-Kulikov

Bobrovsky
Vanecek

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Florida Hockey – Inside The Rink

Players To Watch:

Columbus Blue Jackets:

James van Riemsdyk this season has 29 points on 14 goals and 15 assists. He’s faced the Panthers 41 times in his career recording 25 points on 13 goals and 12 assists; he scored a goal in the matchup earlier this season.

Florida Panthers:

Sam Reinhart this season has 64 points on 31 goals and 33 assists. He’s faced the Blue Jackets 25 times in his career recording 31 points on 12 goals and 19 assists; he recorded a goal and two assists the first time these two met this season.

Injury Report:

Columbus Blue Jackets:

C Owen Sillinger – IR
D Erik Gudbranson – IR
C Cole Sillinger – IR
C Sean Monahan – IR

Florida Panthers:

F Matthew Tkachuk – IR

Next Game:  

Columbus: March 9 at New York Rangers
Florida: March 8 vs. Buffalo Sabres

ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again – Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they break down the Florida Panthers winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, Trevor Zegras traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, the AHL Calder Cup winning Abbotsford Canucks, and the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft!

1. ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again 56:17
2. ITR 43: It's Winning Time 39:10
3. ITR 42: Ripe For Repeat? 29:05
4. ITR 41: Stanley Cup Final – The Rematch 46:47
5. ITR 40: Headed For A Repeat? 32:22