Penguins Beat Blue Jackets for 10th Time in 11 Meetings
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been struggling this season, but they have maintained their dominance over the Columbus Blue Jackets, defeating them for the 10th time in 11 meetings on Tuesday night.
The Penguins took an early lead with goals from Jesse Puljujarvi and Evgeni Malkin in the first period. Columbus tied the game in the second period with goals from Johnny Gaudreau and Andrew Peeke, but Pittsburgh regained the lead with a fluky goal from Rickard Rakell on a power play.
Columbus tied the game again in the third period with a short-handed goal from Jack Roslovic, but Jeff Carter and Reilly Smith scored just over a minute apart to give the Penguins some breathing room. Tristan Jarry made 33 saves for the Penguins, while Jet Greaves made 26 saves for the Blue Jackets.
The Penguins’ victory snapped a three-game losing streak, but they remain in danger of missing the playoffs for a second straight season. First-year general manager Kyle Dubas is likely to be a seller before Friday’s trade deadline, and star forward Jake Guentzel could be gone by the weekend.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the team’s future, the Penguins played with determination and resilience against the Blue Jackets. They converted turnovers into goals in the first period and responded quickly after Columbus tied the game in the third period.
“We were the better team for a lot of the night,” said Smith, who had a goal and two assists. “We deservedly so.”
The Penguins will host the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, while the Blue Jackets will host the Edmonton Oilers.