The Florida Panthers made a giant leap to the top of the standings Sunday.

Aleksander Barkov had a pair of goals as the streaking Panthers earned their sixth straight win to take over the top spot in the Atlantic Division, beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 at BB&T Center.

Aaron Ekblad also scored a goal for the Panthers (20-12-4). Jonathan Huberdeau had two assists. Reilly Smith and Vincent Trocheck also added helpers.

Brandon Saad and Cam [url=http://www.officialbuccaneersnflstore.com/AUTHENTIC+AKEEM+SPENCE+JERSEY]htt... scored for Columbus (13-22-3).

Justin Falk, Kevin Connauton, Alexander Wennberg and Ryan Murray had assists.

Roberto Luongo made 15 saves for Florida. Columbus's Curtis McElhinney had 29 saves.

The Panthers started the day one point out of first place in the Atlantic and received help when Ottawa beat [url=http://www.officialbuccaneersnflstore.com/AUTHENTIC+ALI+MARPET+JERSEY]http:... 3-1 earlier in the day. The win moved Florida to 44 points, one ahead of Detroit and Montreal, who the Panthers play Tuesday at home.

''It's exciting,'' said Florida coach Gerard Gallant, whose club has won 12 of their last 15 games. ''We're playing the game and we see Boston had lost in the afternoon, so if we would've won tonight knew we could get to first place. It's almost a new year and being in first place means a lot.

''But again we're [url=http://www.saintsofficialonlineshop.com/SUPER-BOWL-ANDRUS-PEAT-JERSEY]Andru... Peat Jerseyprobably five or six points out of the playoffs.''

Florida, then in sixth place and only two points out of last, was 16 points back of first-place Montreal on Nov. 27.

With Florida ahead 1-0 late in the period, Barkov won a faceoff back to Huberdeau [url=http://www.saintsofficialonlineshop.com/SUPER-BOWL-ANTHONY-SPENCER-JERSEY]h... the period's final minute before Huberdeau skated below the goal line and fed a pass into the low slot. Barkov's shot beat McElhinney on the stick side at 19:42 to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

''We had a lot of shots on net and their goalie made a lot of saves on the power play to keep them in the game. The second goal was huge,'' said Huberdeau, who has a team-high 19 assists.

''Our line has found some chemistry.''

Added Ekblad of Huberdeau's pass: ''That's a National (Hockey) League pass. That's a great pass.''

Ekblad opened the scoring in the first period for Florida after Smith's shot from the left circle rang off the post.