The Blue Jackets couldn't extend their winning streak to three games as they lost 5-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| PIT PENGUINS | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
1st Period
Jesse Puljujarvi opened the scoring at 13:33 after Boone Jenner's pass eluded Damon Severson's stick at the left point, where it was picked up by Ryan Graves who found Puljujarvi in front for the goal.
PULJUJARVI WITH HIS FIRST AS A PENGUIN! pic.twitter.com/ruduEIakN7
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 6, 2024
Evgeni Malkin doubled Pittsburgh's lead at 18:57 with a right-circle slap shot that beat Jet Greaves to the far post thanks to a nice pass from Reilly Smith.
UNLEASH THE GENO pic.twitter.com/7VVstQ57j3
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 6, 2024
Pittsburgh led 2-0 over Columbus after 20 minutes and took a 12-6 advantage in shots on goal into the second period.
2nd Period
Johnny Gaudreau cut the Blue Jackets' deficit in half with his 10th goal of the year at 4:31 with a one-timer from the slot off a feed from Jack Roslovic. With his secondary assist on the goal, Zach Werenski became the first defenseman and third player in franchise history to record 200 assists.
Here's Johnny!
— Bally Sports Columbus (@BallySportsCBUS) March 6, 2024
Johnny Gaudreau gets the @BlueJacketsNHL on the board with a one-timer early in the second period against the Penguins.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/M7LsXmwcRK
Andrew Peeke scored his first goal of the season to tie the game at 5:28 with a right-point wrist shot that deflected off Malkin on its way to the goal.
Peeking at the right time!
— Bally Sports Columbus (@BallySportsCBUS) March 6, 2024
Andrew Peeke scores the game-tying goal off of a deflection early in the second period against the Penguins.@BlueJacketsNHL | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/vnFoT1iJgG
Pittsburgh re-took the lead at 14:32 on the power play when Erik Gudbranson's clearing attempt deflected off of Rickard Rakell and in.
After 40 minutes, Pittsburgh lead 3-2 while trailing 23-18 in shots on goal.
3rd Period
Roslovic scored his fifth goal of the season to tie the while short-handed at 8:04 with a right-wing wrist shot on the rush.
Turning defense into offense.
— Bally Sports Columbus (@BallySportsCBUS) March 6, 2024
Jack Roslovic takes a rebound off of a blocked shot by Andrew Peeke, skates up ice and buries the game-tying short-handed goal near the midway point of the third period.@BlueJacketsNHL | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/M5kZzL7Ogp
Pittsburgh scored on the same power play to take a 4-3 lead at 8:26 when Jeff Carter banked a pass off Peeke's skate and in.
Another one for the black and goal-d pic.twitter.com/Xi9mO9kLz5
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 6, 2024
The Penguins doubled their lead at 9:53 when Malkin advantage of Cole Sillinger's pass to Werenski and found Smith in the slot for the goal.
THREE POINTS ON THE NIGHT FOR REILLY SMITH!
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 6, 2024
And how about that play from Malkin? pic.twitter.com/hmgkZg703Y
The Blue Jackets pulled Greaves for an extra skater at 18:30 but couldn't score.
With the loss, the Blue Jackets fell to 21-31-10.
Stats
- Shots on Goal: CBJ 36-31 PIT
- Face-off %: CBJ 43.3-56.7 PIT
- Power play: CBJ 0/1-2/3 PIT
- Giveaways: CBJ 6-9 PIT
- Takeaways: CBJ 7-14 PIT
- Blocked shots: CBJ 25-19 PIT
- Hits: CBJ 17-16 PIT
-
5-on-5 stats (via naturalstattrick.com):
- Expected Goals (xG): CBJ 2.50-2.11 PIT
- Shot Attempts (CF): CBJ 68-54 PIT
- Shots on Goal (SF): CBJ 33-24 PIT
- Scoring Chances (SCF): CBJ 28-28 PIT
- High-Danger Chances (HDCF): CBJ 8-9 PIT
Injury Update
- Patrik Laine entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on Jan. 28 and will be away from the team indefinitely.
- Adam Fantilli suffered a calf laceration on Jan. 28 and is expected to miss eight weeks.
- Kent Johnson suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder and will miss the rest of the season. He was placed on IR and is expected to have surgery later this week.
Next Up
The Jackets return home on Thursday to take on the Edmonton Oilers at 7 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Ohio.
The club will conclude its two-game homestand on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET against the Nashville Predators on Bally Sports Ohio.
