# Panthers visit Columbus after Reinhart’s two goals fail to prevent defeat

Florida finishes a back-to-back with major forwards unavailable as the Blue Jackets begin the teams’ season series.

By The Signal Edition | Sports / Ice hockey
Published: 2026-10-13T22:08:21.589Z
Updated: 2026-10-13T22:08:21.589Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/panthers-columbus-road-test-11dea3l

## Summary
- Florida entered 2-2-2 and Columbus 2-2-0.
- Sam Reinhart scored twice in Monday’s 5-3 loss at Buffalo.
- The clubs meet for the first time this season.

## A road response for Florida

The Florida Panthers visit the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on October 13 after Sam Reinhart’s two-goal game was not enough to avoid a 5-3 loss at Buffalo. The Associated Press lists Florida at 2-2-2 and Columbus at 2-2-0 for the scheduled 6:15 p.m. Eastern matchup. This is the first meeting of the clubs’ season series, with both looking for greater consistency after mixed starts. [1](https://abcnews.com/Sports/wireStory/panthers-visit-blue-jackets-after-reinharts-2-goal-137217042)

## The Buffalo game’s turning point

Field Level Media’s account published by Reuters said Reinhart’s two power-play goals twice brought Florida level, the second making it 3-3. Noah Ostlund then scored on Buffalo’s third-period power play before Tage Thompson added another goal. Akira Schmid made 18 saves after replacing Jacob Markstrom at the first intermission, while Seth Jones supplied two assists for Florida. [2](https://www.reuters.com/sports/nhl/sabres-own-third-period-slip-past-panthers-5-3--flm-2026-10-12/)

## Unavailable forwards and discipline

The AP preview lists Aleksander Barkov, Brad Marchand and Jonah Gadjovich as unavailable for the Panthers. It also reports that Florida had accumulated 34 penalties, an average of 5.7 per game, the highest total in the league at that snapshot. Columbus’s listed absences include Dante Fabbro, Ivan Provorov, Isac Lundestrom and Caleb MacDonald. Availability and penalty discipline therefore provide concrete issues to follow alongside the score. [1](https://abcnews.com/Sports/wireStory/panthers-visit-blue-jackets-after-reinharts-2-goal-137217042)

## A new setting and the next fixtures

Inside The Rink’s preview lists regional coverage through the Blue Jackets networks and Scripps for Florida. It identifies Matthew Knies, Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson among Columbus’s projected forwards, with Zach Werenski and Damon Severson on defense. After this game, Florida is scheduled to host Vancouver on October 15, while Columbus hosts the Rangers on October 17. Those are schedule and lineup details, rather than a claim about a completed result. [3](https://insidetherink.com/nhl-game-preview-florida-panthers-at-columbus-blue-jackets-with-line-combinations-10-13-2026/)

## Back-to-back context

Florida’s official preview confirms Tuesday completes its road back-to-back following Monday’s loss in Buffalo. [4](https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/preview-panthers-close-out-back-to-back-against-the-blue-jackets)

## Reporting sources
1. [ABC News / Associated Press: Panthers visit the Blue Jackets after Reinhart’s 2-goal game](https://abcnews.com/Sports/wireStory/panthers-visit-blue-jackets-after-reinharts-2-goal-137217042) (2026-10-13)
2. [Reuters / Field Level Media: Sabres own third period to slip past Panthers 5-3](https://www.reuters.com/sports/nhl/sabres-own-third-period-slip-past-panthers-5-3--flm-2026-10-12/) (2026-10-12)
3. [Inside The Rink: NHL Game Preview: Florida Panthers at Columbus Blue Jackets](https://insidetherink.com/nhl-game-preview-florida-panthers-at-columbus-blue-jackets-with-line-combinations-10-13-2026/) (2026-10-13)
4. [Florida Panthers: Panthers close out back-to-back against the Blue Jackets](https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/preview-panthers-close-out-back-to-back-against-the-blue-jackets) (2026-10-13)