Three Things: Penguins Offense Too Much, Jackets (Finally) Break Goose Egg, Flatlining

By Will Chase on March 22, 2025 at 8:15 am
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) makes a save against Pittsburgh Penguins center Connor Dewar (19) during the first period at PPG Paints Arena.
© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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At least they scored?

Sidney Crosby had a two-point night with a goal and an assist to spark the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3 at PPG Paints Arena on Friday night.

The Blue Jackets have lost six straight (0-5-1), matching their longest losing streak of the season Nov. 1-12 (0-5-1).

Penguins Offense Too Much

The Blue Jackets were able to score Friday night. It just wasn’t nearly enough.

Columbus scored three in their loss to Pittsburgh after potting one goal during their recent 0-3-1 homestand. It’s the first game they’ve scored multiple goals since their 5-3 loss at the New Jersey Devils on Mar. 11.

The Penguins scored three times in the opening period to take a 3-1 lead into the intermission.

Pittsburgh started the game’s scoring when Evgeni Malkin tallied his 14th at 5:28 to make it 1-0 Penguins. Philip Tomasino (11) and Connor Dewar (4) had the assists.

At 13:51 Noel Acciari made it 2-0. Blake Lizotte added his ninth assist.

Boone Jenner answered moments later at 14:07 with his first of the year to make it 2-1. Denton Mateychuk had his fourth assist and Ivan Provorov picked up his 22nd.

However, Pittsburgh answered the answer with their third of the period to make it 3-1 at 14:53. Rickard Rakell scored his 32nd with Bryan Rust (28) and Crosby (51) picking up the assists. Crosby is on a six-game point streak (six goals, four assists).

Justin Danforth cut the deficit to a goal early in the second period at 1:35 with his eighth. Mathieu Olivier (11) and Damon Severson (19) picked up the helpers.

Then Pittsburgh added on again at 8:15, as Bokondji Imama got his first of the year and the second goal of his career. Danton Heinen (17) and Kevin Hayes (10) assisted on the goal.

It was that kind of night as 12 Penguins recorded a point including 11 different forwards.

Crosby made it 5-2 for his 25th at 15:31 — Matt Grzelcyk, 31st assist — and Rust added the empty net goal at 18:03 of the third period with Rakell adding his second point (29th assist) and Alex Nedeljkovic adding his second assist of the season.

Kent Johnson had a goal at 3:45 of the third period. Sean Kuraly (10) and Yegor Chinakhov (8) assisted. 

Elvis Merzlikins made his second straight start in as many nights, the first time all season he's played both ends of the back-to-back. Daniil Tarasov is dealing with an illness and Jet Greaves, called up following Thursday's game, served as Merzlikins' backup.

Merzlikins made 28 saves on 33 shots.

Jackets (Finally) Break Goose Egg

Here are the lone highlights.

Mathieu Olivier and Bokondji Imama got into a scrap at 11:49 of the first period which might have provided energy for the Jackets. Down 2-0 at the time, Jenner wound up scoring his first of the season moments later at 14:07. Jenner's goal came just after Acciari's at 13:51.

Flatlining

The Columbus-Pittsburgh tilt was the only game around the league on Friday so the good news is the Blue Jackets didn’t lose ground in their playoff chase but didn’t do themselves any favors either.

The Penguins moved to within three points of the sinking Jackets.

Columbus is 1-8-0 in the second of back-to-back games this season. They’re 5-12-1 in back-to-back sets.

Zach Werenski has gone a season-high five straight games without a point. He had a game-high eight shots on goal. Kent Johnson broke a season-long four-game pointless drought with the goal on Friday.

The playoffs seemingly on life support, the Jackets are still three points out of the final wild card spot with 13 games left to play.

Road Trip Conclusion

The Blue Jackets wrap up the quick two-game road trip when they play the New York Islanders from UBS Arena on Monday, Mar. 24 at 7 p.m. ET.

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