Like adults against children, the Florida Panthers completely dominated the Columbus Blue Jackets and wiped them out 9-2 on Saturday at FLA Live Arena.
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The home team scored the first six goals of the game, four in the first period and two in the next period.
Carter Verhaeghe (twice), Anthony Duclair and MacKenzie Weegar first flashed the red light in the first 20 minutes, while Jonathan Huberdeau and Anton Lundell followed suit in the next 20.
In a cause already lost, the visitors finally gave a sign of life early in the third period, when Gustav Nyquist beat Sergei Bobrovsky on the power play.
The Panthers goalkeeper finally made 28 saves on 30 shots, also yielding to Boone Jenner, when the scoreboard already showed the number 9 next to the names of the crowd favorites.
Anton Lundell, with his second goal of the match, as well as Sam Bennett and Ryan Lomberg hit the target for the home team in the final period. Weegar was the most productive player, however, with four points. Nine Panthers skaters had at least two points in the win.
The doormen of the Blue Jackets for their part lived through a real hell. Elvis Merzlikins was on the ice only 13:28, allowing four goals on 15 shots, before being retired in favor of Joonas Korpisalo.
The latter repelled 31 of the 36 pucks aimed at him.