Brady Tkachuk lit up Columbus with a natural hat trick Tuesday night. His brother Matthew matched a franchise record with five assists. The Panthers steamrolled the Blue Jackets 7-3 in the NHL's Frozen Frenzy showcase.
This was a complete performance from Florida's top line. Brady finished with three goals. Matthew orchestrated the offense from the wing, setting up plays all night. When you have both Tkachuks clicking at the same time, goalies don't stand a chance. Columbus never recovered after the Panthers built their lead early.
The Blue Jackets managed three goals but couldn't keep pace. Florida's depth scoring showed up too, spreading the damage across multiple contributors. This kind of blowout win matters in a tight playoff race. You don't often see a full family takeover of a game like this at the NHL level. The Tkachuks made Tuesday about them and the Panthers' depth, not about Columbus's defensive schemes.