Florida brings a six-point standings edge and a top scorer to Columbus, but the Blue Jackets have a slight team save-percentage advantage.
Florida arrives with a 9-7-2 record and 20 points, six ahead of Columbus at 7-8-0; the Panthers rank 16th in the power index, while the Blue Jackets sit 25th. Both teams are 2-3 over their last five, but Florida has lost two straight and Columbus is coming off one defeat. The key matchup is Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk, who has 26 points (4 goals, 22 assists) in 17 games, against Columbus’ Kent Johnson, the Blue Jackets’ leader with 15 points in 14 games. Florida’s top six averages 6.0 points per game to Columbus’ 4.41, while Columbus holds a narrow team save-percentage edge, .893 to .885; which side turns its strength into timely stops and scoring will decide Tuesday’s game.