Two teams on losing streaks enter this contest featuring a franchise with cosmic struggles against the other, and an expensive goalie starting after a conditioning stint in the AHL. Let’s start off the recap with a nice tone setter:
First Period
Two and a half minutes in, Christiansen threw a shot towards the net and ZAR tipped it just wide of Jarry, off the post, and in. Not the start Jarry wanted, but familiar. He’s let in the first shot on goal in 3 of his 4 starts this year.
CBJ Goal 1-0 ZAR (Christiansen, Labanc) 2:20
A little back and forth action before Drew O’Connor got a call for hooking Severson. Off the opening faceoff of the PP, Z took a one time slapper from the blue line at the perfect height and speed to beat Jarry glove side. Two goals on four shots.
CBJ PP Goal 2-0 Werenski (Chinakhov, Fantilli) 8:39
Seemingly out of nowhere, Crosby got his stick on a clearing attempt and all but put it in the goal. Anthony Beauvillier found it in mid air and tapped it in.
PIT Goal 2-1 Beauvillier (Crosby) 11:51
Elvis had some great saves on a Puljujarvi breakaway and then on a followup chance after clearing the rebound right to a Penguin. A few more chances either way, a solid kill from the Jackets, and then a late penalty against Malkin ends the period. CBJ will start the second with about 90 seconds of Power Play time. Shots 9-6 bad guys, goals 2-1 good guys.
Second Period
No luck on the opening PP for the Jackets. Shortly after Pittsburgh had a loooong shift in the offensive zone that led to a Christiansen holding penalty. Nothing to worry about on the kill, the Pens PP did not have much juice. The Penguins did get the puck past Elvis about halfway through the period, but the goal was immediately waived off for interference (correctly). Another Pens PP mid-way through after a Kuraly high stick. Nothing happened on this PP until the 2nd unit came on and the Jackets can’t clean up a rebound after a point shot.
PIT PP Goal 2-2 Bunting (Beauvillier, O’Connor) 12:06
A good response shift draws a Penguins penalty and the Jackets went back on the PP. Marchenko nearly scored on a one timer ten seconds in but Jarry got the save. The PP does not convert. A weird bounce off a stanchion sets the puck in front of an empty CBJ net, chaos ensued, and Werenski emerged from it with the puck and clear into the neutral zone. He got the puck past the lone Pens’ defender and to Olivier who out dueled Jarry to restore the CBJ lead. Dante Fabbro with his first point as a Jacket on the goal and Olivier his fifth of the season.
CBJ Goal 3-2 Olivier (Werenski, Fabbro ) 16:27
A good save from a sprawling Elvis, and a last second chance from Severson closed out the second frame, the Home team still leading by 1. Jackets with a decisive advantage in shots on goal in the second, 15-7, but the Penguins had a few dangerous chances that have them leading in the xG department thus far.
Third Period
Two minutes into the third a Marchenko shot from high in the zone gets to Jarry and Voronkov puts in the rebound to restore the two goal lead for his second goal of the year.
CBJ Goal 4-2 Voronkov (Marchenko, Monahan) 1:56
A great individual effort from Marchenko led to a zone entry and a shot from in close on Jarry ten minutes in. This started a sequence with Voronkov and Monahan at the net that ended with a wide open Severson in the slot beating Jarry.
CBJ Goal 5-2 Severson (Monahan, Voronkov) 9:49
Shout out to Labanc for a strong effort on the puck later to draw a penalty for Columbus’ 5th PP of the night. Didn’t convert, but Labanc continues to do nice work in the bottom six. A Dante Fabbro penalty put Pittsburgh back on the power play late in the period. Mike Sullivan elected to pull the goalie halfway through the man advantage to get a 6-on-4 opportunity with five minutes left. After a scramble following a Karlsson shot on net, Cole Sillinger carried the puck to center ice before flipping it into the empty net.
CBJ EN Goal 6-2 Sillinger (Provorov, Danforth) 15:32
Final score of 6-2, first regulation win over the Penguins in just under 5 years and in front of a sell out crowd.
Final Thoughts
Starting with the other team, it’s worth mentioning this Penguins team has not been good this year and Jarry has been especially bad. But it’s long been overdue for them to have some struggles. That said, according to Evolving Hockey they won the xG battle at all situations 4.2 to 3.5, that difference holds at 5v5. The Penguins didn’t get a lot of shots on net, but they did get a lot of close rebounds. In past years, these find a way past the CBJ goalie.
Forwards: Voronkov is starting to get into game shape, consistently strong all night with Monahan and Marchenko. He and Marchenko seem to really get along, every shot after a whistle is those two chatting and smiling. Congrats to Monahan on his 300th NHL assist. Each forward had some moments, though Chinakhov was unusually quiet in this one.
Defense: Great night for offense from the back end. Werenski, Severson, and Christiansen (ZAR got the tip) scored on shots and Fabbro got his first point as a Jacket. Harris was quiet, but I think that’s what we want from his game. No need to being JJ back in tomorrow.
Tender: Elvis was good tonight. It wasn’t difficult to win the goalie battle, but he saved over 2 goals above expected. Were there some chaotic sequences that could’ve gone differently? Sure, but that’s life in the NHL. If we ding him for when those go in, we have to praise him when they don’t.
Up Next
The Jackets get right back at it and take a trip to Montreal to play the Habs Saturday night at 7pm.