Johansen Lifts Blue Jackets Past Panthers, 3-2
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Johansen scored the tie-breaking goal in the third period to and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Florida Panthers for the eighth straight time, 3-2 on Saturday night.
Mark Letestu and Cam Atkinson also scored for Columbus and Sergei Bobrovsky made 33 saves.
Jimmy Hayes and Vincent Trocheck scored for the Panthers. Roberto Luongo stopped 35 shots.
The Blue Jackets clinched the first wild-card spot and will face Pittsburgh in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Philadelphia's 4-3 overtime win over Pittsburgh earlier Saturday clinched third place in the Metropolitan Division for the Flyers and forced Columbus to the wild-card spot.
Johansen's 33rd goal of the season, a one-timer from the left circle, got past Luongo at 5:58 of the third period to put Columbus ahead.
© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
