Panthers 7, Blue Jackets 3: Brady Tkachuk's Natural Hat Trick

October 13, 2026 - Columbus - Brady Tkachuk had one point in a Florida sweater before Tuesday. Then he scored three times in 8:03 of the second period, Matthew Tkachuk assisted on all three, and Nationwide Arena spent the rest of the night watching a 7-3 game that started 1-0 the other way.

The Florida Panthers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-3. Florida is 3-2-2 after losing four of five (1-2-2), the NHL recap said. Columbus is 2-3-0, three losses in four (1-3-0). Shots were 28-27 Florida. Florida went 4-for-6 on the power play. Cam Talbot, Damon Severson, Denton Mateychuk, Cole Sillinger, Charlie Coyle, and Mathieu Olivier are not seeded on AthX player pages, so those names stay unlinked.

Brady Tkachuk's fourth career hat trick was a natural. Matthew had five assists. Sam Reinhart scored twice. Carter Verhaeghe scored twice. Seth Jones had four assists. Akira Schmid stopped 24 of 27 a night after relieving Jacob Markstrom in Buffalo. Kent Johnson scored. Talbot allowed six goals on 23 shots. Jet Greaves stopped all four he saw in 14:04.

Johnson first, then the second period

Johnson scored unassisted at 14:11 of the first. 1-0 Columbus.

Brady tied it at 2:27 of the second from the high slot. The Associated Press recap said he took advantage of a Carson Soucy turnover in the Florida zone. First of the season. Matthew had the assist. Power-play tip at 6:00, Matthew and Jones. 2-1. Power-play wrist at 10:30, Reinhart and Matthew. 3-1. Natural hat trick. Fourth of his career, second against Columbus, the AP recap said. Ninth Panthers player with three in a period.

Brady told NHL.com it is something you dream of, it happened in the events they have played together, and it probably took longer than expected. He was happier with the two points. Coach Paul Maurice said he had liked Brady's game, the power play needed something to go a certain way, and the brothers played together their whole lives as kids.

Verhaeghe snapped a power-play goal at 17:50 during Olivier's five-minute major for slashing Uvis Balinskis. Brady and Matthew on the play. 4-1. Olivier told NHL.com too many penalties, not good enough on the kill, his penalty looked bad, and he did not have an explanation.

Reinhart to 86, then an empty net

Reinhart tipped Matthew's shot on the power play at 1:20 of the third. The AP recap called it a Panthers-record 86th career power-play goal. 5-1. Verhaeghe scored even strength at 3:28 from Lars Eller and Jones. 6-1. That was Talbot's sixth goal against. Greaves came in.

Mateychuk snapped one at 13:47 from Severson and Valeri Nichushkin. 6-2. Sillinger 22 seconds later from Coyle and Severson. 6-3. Reinhart's empty-net snap at 17:43 from Anton Lundell and Jones closed it 7-3.

Columbus coach Rick Bowness told NHL.com they beat themselves in St. Louis on Saturday and again Tuesday. He hoped the night would embarrass them enough to stop it. Jones on Brady: nice to see him get rewarded for the small things.

The NHL recap said Brady's hat trick was the third-fastest in Panthers history behind Noel Acciari (3:59) and Steve Reinprecht (5:11). Matthew has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) on a six-game streak, tied career highs of five points and five assists, and set a franchise record with four assists in a period. The Tkachuks became the third set of brothers in 40 years with four or more points in the same game, after the Sedins and the Stastnys. Florida is 11-2-0 against Columbus since 2022-23, the AP recap said.

Florida hosts Vancouver on Thursday. Columbus hosts the Rangers on Saturday.

AthX Engine on a 24.40 night in Ohio

AthX Engine (our projection and scoring system) scored Brady Tkachuk at 17.90 (three goals, an assist, four shots, two power-play bonuses). Reinhart is 16.20. Jones is 12.80. Matthew is 12.60 on five assists. Verhaeghe is 10.80. Schmid's win, 24 saves, and three goals against land at 9.00. Greaves is 1.60. Talbot is -0.40.

Florida's team line is 24.40. Columbus floors at 0.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay for a Tkachuk line that just did this a night after Brady's first Florida point in Buffalo. They are not the same number.

Track Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, Reinhart, and both clubs on the marketplace. Florida hosts Vancouver on Thursday.

*Sources: AP recap (ESPN), ESPN box score, NHL.com recap, NHL.com scoreboard, ESPN NHL scoreboard. AthX Engine fantasy points scored from NHL gamecenter box 2026020091. Information only; not financial advice.*