Penguins Rally, Grind Out 3-2 Win Over Blue Jackets

The Penguins accomplished something last night in Columbus they haven’t managed in quite some time. They played a full, 60-minute game, with very few discernable lulls. Their reward? A hard-earned 3-2 victory over the pesky Columbus Blue Jackets, in comeback fashion to boot. In the process, avoiding a letdown following their big victory over the Rangers on Saturday.

For the record, beating the improving young Blue Jackets is no easy feat these days. Riding a hot streak by super scorer Patrik Laine and a career season by their bruising captain Boone Jenner, they entered the game on a 9-3 run, including recent victories over Toronto and Florida.

Indeed, the Jackets grabbed the lead on a tally by Oliver Bjorkstrand at 4:43 of the opening period to put us in an early hole. Despite dogged work by our Pens, not to mention several dinged posts, it appeared the lead would stand up approaching the first intermission. But with less than a minute to go in the frame, Kasperi Kapanen won a race to a loose puck following a good scoring opportunity and nudged it to Evgeni Malkin along the left wing boards. Geno launched the puck into the open far corner, where it ricocheted up the wall to a pinching Chad Ruhwedel. The Pens’ defender uncorked an innocuous-looking one-timer that glanced off defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and past netminder Elvis Merzlikins.

The Jackets regained the lead midway through the second period thanks to a freakish play. Brian Dumoulin’s attempted clear along the glass hit a stanchion and landed smack dab at the skates of former black-and-gold trade target Jack Roslovic. Before the flat-footed Pens could react, the Jackets’ center scooted through the right circle and beat Casey DeSmith with a wicked wrister over the left shoulder.

With little room to make plays and stymied by the rangy Merzlikins, it looked as though the Jackets’ 2-1 lead might stand up. Cue the “Two-Headed Monster.”

Midway through the final period, Sean Kuraly dumped Malkin with a vicious slew foot to draw a penalty. On the ensuing power play, Kris Letang drifted down the left side of the Columbus zone before snapping a cross-ice feed to Sidney Crosby in the right circle. Sid coolly surveyed the scene, freezing the CBJ penalty killers, before slipping a pass to Jake Guentzel to the right of the cage. Jake immediately moved the puck to Bryan Rust in the slot, who fed Malkin approaching from the left. Geno banged the puck home to knot the score at 2-2 and gain a measure of revenge in one delicious swoop.

The stage was set for Crosby’s game winner. In a heart-and-soul play that typifies his extraordinary work ethic and lead-by-example style, Sid outworked Roslovic and defenseman Andrew Peete for a loose puck along the end boards and dished the rubber to Rust, who into turn fed Letang at the right point. As Tanger teed up a long-range blast, Sid bulled his way past Roslovic to the front of the net. Merzlikins aggressively moved out of the blue paint to play the shot. They collided, Merzlikins fell, and Sid swept the rubber into an open net.

Columbus coach Brad Larsen challenged, claiming goalie interference. But Merzlikins had clearly initiated the contact and the goal stood. At the opposite end of the rink DeSmith stopped Jakub Voracek with 10 seconds remaining to secure the two points and a well-deserved victory for our boys.

Puckpourri

The Pens held a 71-49 edge in shot attempts and a 40-34 advantage in shots on goal. High-danger chances favored the black and gold as well (13-11). Malkin (two points on the night) was named first star.

DeSmith played a strong game in net, stopping 32 shots to earn third-star honors. Continuing to rebound from a rocky start, he’s 6-0-1 in his past seven decisions. However, the most important save of the game may well have been made by Mark Friedman. Subbing for the injured Mike Matheson, the feisty defender swept the puck…mere inches from crossing the goal line…from harm’s way at 9:12 of the third period to prevent the Blue Jackets from taking a two-goal lead.

Friedman was also noticeable for his wheels and penchant for joining the rush. He had two shots on goal and nearly scored in the first period when a shot rang off the pipe.

Kapanen played his most effective game in some time. His hustle led directly to our first goal and an assist for Kappy, snapping a dreadful 13-game pointless streak.

With two of our three goals and eight of our 10 points, big guns (Crosby, Guentzel, Letang, Malkin and Rust) continue to shoulder the offensive load. However, our once-vaunted secondary scoring remains on life support. Among the most prominent slumpers, Kapanen (no goals in 14 games), Brock McGinn (0 in 13), Jeff Carter (1 in 14), Evan Rodrigues (1 in 22) and Danton Heinen (2 in 19). The grand-daddy of the MIA set? Zach Aston-Reese (0 in 30).

With the victory, the Pens (33-14-8, 74 points) solidified their hold on second place in the Metro, three up on the Rangers and four behind front-running Carolina. We don’t play again till Thursday night, when we visit the Lightning.