Columbus entered PPG Paints Arena (dumb name, imo) to play the Pittsburgh Penguins (dumb team, imo) in a playoff preview and, while the Blue Jackets didn’t seem intimidated by the late-season road atmosphere, they found themselves on the wrong side of a 4-1 result.
The second period began with a 1-0 deficit, and the Jackets actually started showing some pep in their step, but the Penguins took advantage of a couple of lucky goals – one from Patric Hornqvist after Tom Kuhnhackl blocked a shot from Seth Jones to lead a charge to the other end and one on a redirected shot from Brian Dumoulin off Cam Atkinson’s foot – to take a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes.
The lucky bounces continued for Pittsburgh in the opening moments of the third period, as Justin Schultz riffled a shot towards the net that bounced off the sticks of Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel as the Pens took a 4-0 lead.
Brandon Dubinsky netted the lone goal of the night for the Jackets on a penalty kill (go figure) after Nick Foligno got sent off for a high sticking call.
While the Jackets lost by three goals, they really didn’t lose by three goals. A couple bounces go a different way – not even the Jackets’ way, just in any different way – we are talking about a pretty exciting 2-1 game (or perhaps having a completely different conversation all together). But, alas, here we are.