| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
 |
3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
|
CBJ GOALS: |
||||
For the sixth straight game, the Columbus Blue Jackets came up short — this time getting doubled up by the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 6-3 loss.
The Penguins scored three first-period goals, jumping out to a 3-1 lead through twenty minutes.
"We just gave them too much, especially early in the game," said captain Boone Jenner. "Obviously they were able to capitalize on it so it's on us."
Jenner scored the lone goal for Columbus in the opening frame, his first of the season coming in his 13th game of the season.
The Blue Jackets pulled to within one just 1:35 into the second period on Justin Danforth's eighth goal of the season, but the Penguins would add two more goals in the middle frame to take a 5-2 lead into the final period.
A third-period goal from Kent Johnson gave the Blue Jackets some life, but despite 18 shots on goal in the final 20 minutes, it was the only one to get past Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic.
Nedeljkovic finished with 44 saves. Elvis Merzlikins, starting on back-to-back nights for the time in nearly two years, made 28 saves on 33 shots.
The Penguins converted on a late empty-netter to make it 6-3.
"It's the time of year where you need points and you need results and we haven't done that," said Zach Werenski.
The loss leaves the Blue Jackets three points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Here's how Columbus walked away empty-handed again:
1st Period:
(5:28 — PIT Goal): Evgeni Malkin knocks down Dante Fabbro in the slot as the puck is shot in from the point. It takes a perfect bounce off the boards behind Merzlikins, right to Philip Tomasino. He throws the puck in front of the crease, it gets by Zach Werenski and ends up with Malkin who scores to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead.
(11:49 — Olivier vs Imama): A solid scrap at center ice Mathieu Olivier and Bokondji Imama, but score it the victory to Olivier. He's had trouble finding a taker in recent games, with this being his first fight since March 6th.
#CBJ start the second period down 3-1. They'll need to show plenty of fight in the final forty to turn this one around. Speaking of fights, here's the Mathieu Olivier vs. Bokondji Imama bout from the first period: pic.twitter.com/vxyiWm9IWQ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 22, 2025
(13:51 — PIT Goal): The Penguins win the faceoff and immediately get it in front of the net. The puck pings off Ivan Provorov's skate and right to Noel Acciari in the crease. At the same time, Denton Mateychuk inadvertently bumps Merzlikins away from any chance to make a save. The result is Acciari's fifth goal of the season and a 2-0 Pittsburgh lead.
(14:07 — CBJ Goal): Jenner's first goal since March 26th, 2024 puts the Blue Jackets on the board. Mateychuk receives a crisp pass from Provorov and fires the puck. Jenner is in the slot and tips it perfectly off his stick and past Nedeljkovic to cut into Pittsburgh lead and make it a 2-1 game. It was easy to see how much this goal meant to Jenner and the Jackets.
Pittsburgh has a 3-1 lead after the first, but hey the #CBJ scored. Here's Boone Jenner's first goal since March 26th, 2024.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 21, 2025
Gonna need more, though. Several more.pic.twitter.com/6W3PhArPGT
(14:53 — PIT Goal): A third goal in just over a minute as Pittsburgh answers Columbus' answer and restores their two-goal lead. What should have been a clear by the Blue Jackets instead leads to Rickard Rakell's team-leading 32nd of the season, giving the Penguins a 3-1 lead that they would take into the first intermission.
2nd Period:
(1:35 — CBJ Goal): Damon Severson takes a hard shot after the Blue Jackets win a faceoff in the Penguins zone. It's blocked by Acciari but still bounces to Nedeljkovic, who makes the save but gives up a rebound that is swatted at by both Danforth and Olivier. Danforth gets a stick on it and finds the back of the net to bring the Blue Jackets within one, at 3-2.
Justin Danforth gets his eighth goal of the season and brings the #CBJ to within one early in the second. Penguins have since answered and lead it 4-2 with 11:25 left in the middle frame.pic.twitter.com/wHT8XMGEpS
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 22, 2025
(8:15 — PIT Goal): The Penguins go up two for the third time in the game. One period after a center ice fight against Olivier, it's Imama getting his first goal of the season and second of his NHL career to put Pittsburgh up 4-2.
(15:31 — PIT Goal): Jack Johnson's clearing attempt from the corner fails, getting picked up by Matt Grzelcyk just inside the blue line. He floats it at the net and Sidney Crosby is right there, putting it past Merzlikins and giving the Penguins a 5-2 lead.
3rd Period:
(3:45 — CBJ Goal): The Blue Jackets get within two on Johnson's 22nd goal of the season. After Yegor Chinakhov keeps the puck in and throws it at the net, Johnson collects the puck behind Nedeljkovic and skates around the net. It looks like he's going to pass it but instead fires at the net and in, cutting Pittsburgh's lead to 5-3. Chinakhov's assist on the goal was his first point since returning to the lineup March 4th.
Kent Johnson brings the #CBJ to within two. It's still a 5-3 Penguins lead, now with 11:21 left. Key minutes in the Blue Jackets season coming up.pic.twitter.com/y6mX9sWLhC
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) March 22, 2025
(18:03 — PIT Goal): Empty-net goal makes it 6-3 Penguins.
| CBJ | GAME STATS | PIT |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | SHOTS | 34 |
| 47% | FACEOFFS | 53% |
| 0/2 | POWER PLAY | 0/1 |
| 1/1 | PENALTY KILL | 2/2 |
| 17 | HITS | 27 |
| 12 | GIVEAWAYS | 9 |
| 7 | TAKEAWAYS | 7 |
| 7 | BLOCKED SHOTS | 24 |
| ALL SITUATIONS ADVANCED STATS | ||
| n/a | EXPECTED GOALS | n/a |
| 94 | SHOT ATTEMPTS | 55 |
| 53 | SCORING CHANCES | 32 |
| 24 | HIGH-DANGER CHANCES | 15 |
| Data via NHL.com & NaturalStatTrick.com | ||
Stat Chat:
-
Columbus had 94 shot attempts in the game, a new season high. They had 90, their third-highest total of the season, in Monday's 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
-
After an 0-for-2 performance in this one, the Blue Jackets are now 0-for-21 in their last nine games on the power play. They're 4-for-51 (7.9%) since Sean Monahan's injury in the team's last visit to Pittsburgh back on Jan. 7th.
- The Blue Jackets are now 1-8-0 this season on the second half of back-to-backs, being outscored 44-18 in those nine games. This was Columbus' first back-to-back since Jan. 30th and 31st; they have three remaining on the schedule.
Up Next:
If the Blue Jackets are going to stay in the playoff race, two points Monday night against the New York Islanders is nearly a must. Puck-drop is at 7:30 p.m.
