Another meltdown in a second period for the Blue Jackets led to their undoing in a humbling 7-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Oct. 13 at Nationwide Arena, dropping a second straight game they led at the first intermission.
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Matthew and Brady Tkachuk did the honors this time, each contributing to the Panthers (3-2-2-) scoring four straight goals in the second, including Brady notching a natural hat trick by scoring the first three and Matthew assisting on all four.
The hat trick was the fifth of Brady Tkachuk's career and his second natural hat trick, which happens when the goals are scored in succession. It's also his second hat trick against the Blue Jackets after first scoring three goals against them for the Ottawa Senators in a 6-3 victory Feb. 13, 2024 in Columbus.
Matthew Tkachuk assisted on the Panthers' first five goals for five points, tying a franchise record for assists in a game, including primary assists on his brother's first two goals. He also dished out the primary assist on Sam Reinhart's power-play goal 1:20 into the third for a 5-1 lead.
Carter Verhaeghe scored two goals for the Panthers, including one to cap a power play. Florida went 4 of 6 on power plays against the Blue Jackets, who've allowed seven goals in 18 times shorthanded for a paltry 61.1% success rate.
Cam Talbot started in the Blue Jackets' net and allowed six goals on 23 shots while facing all five Panthers power plays. He was replaced by Jet Greaves after allowing the sixth goal, scored by Carter Verhaeghe 3:28 into the third period.
Kent Johnson, Denton Mateychuk and Cole Sillinger scored goals for the Blue Jackets (2-3-0), while Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart each scored two goals to go with Brady Tkachuk's three. Former Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones finished with four assists for the Panthers (3-2-2), who started Akira Schmid in net.
Johnson scored the game's first goal with 5:49 left in the first period to give the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead starting the second. It didn't last long, similar to what happened after building a 2-0 lead in a 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 10 in St. Louis.
Each time, the Blue Jackets lost leads and momentum in poorly played second periods. That included taking six straight penalties in the second against Florida, which gave the Tkachuks ample time to inflict damage on power plays. Brady Tkachuk scored twice on power plays after tying it 1-1 at even strength, but a five-minute advantage late in the period broke the game open.
That followed Mathieu Olivier picking up a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct for slashing Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis in the crotch, which was reviewed by video and upheld. Verhaeghe scored the second of his two goals to cap that power play for a 4-1 lead after two periods.
DispatchBlue Jackets/Crew reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets collapse again in 7-3 loss to Florida Panthers