Sheetz is overrated.
First Period
Based on reports off the twitterverse (I was at a family dinner), the first period was bad. Kuraly had a bad turnover that led to a defensive zone collapse and a Penguins goal. More bad coverage would give Evgeni Malkin a wide open slap shot he took advantage of. 2-0 Penguins.
PENGUINS GOAL – Jesse Puljujarvi from Ryan Graves – 13:33 1st Period
PENGUINS GOAL – Evgeni Malkin from Rielly Smith and Ryan Graves – 18:57 1st Period
Second Period
The second period was better, in that the Jackets were able to close the gap in both shots on goal (overcoming a 12-6 disadvantage to take a 16-15 lead) and the scoreboard. Johnny Gaudreau and Andrew Peeke would score 57 seconds apart to tie the game.
BLUE JACKETS GOAL – Johnny Gaudreau from Jack Roslovic and Zach Werenski – 4:31 2nd Period
BLUE JACKETS GOAL – Andrew Peeke from Jake Bean and Alexandre Texier – 5:28 2nd Period
The Jackets would continue to play well until a costly Jake Bean hooking call; Erik Gudbranson would attempt to clear the zone from behind the net, ended up hitting Rickard Rakell in the leg, and deflecting the puck past Jet Greaves. Blue Jackets hockey, baby!
PENGUINS POWERPLAY GOAL – Rickard Rakell unassisted – 14:32 2nd Period
After some end-to-end play to conclude the period, including Tristan Jarry robbing Gaudreau at the netfront, the Jackets would go to the locker room down 1. They’d also end up on the PK for the first two minutes of the third thanks to Kuraly high sticking a dude with two seconds left. The Jackets were the better team, however, now outshooting the Penguins 23-18.
Third Period
Well, that sucked. After killing off the Kuraly penalty, the Jackets were pressuring well. Jake Bean even tried a lacrosse goal, because reasons, followed by a great shift from the top line, Werenski, and Boqvist. Seven minutes in, Cole Sillinger would take exception to an uncalled elbow in the corner, resulting in a kill. Puck don’t lie tho.
BLUE JACKETS SHORTHANDED GOAL – Jack Roslovic from Andrew Peeke – 8:04 3rd Period
Now the Jackets just need to kill the pen-
PENGUINS POWERPLAY GOAL – Jeff Carter from Emil Bemstrom and Rielly Smith – 8:26 3rd Period
Hey Andrew? Laying your stick on the ice to redirect a pass doesn’t work when you redirect it into your net. Well, as long as Columbus can play good defense, they shou-
PENGUINS GOAL – Rielly Smith from Evgeni Malkin – 9:53 3rd Period
…
K.
Two horrid defensive collapses aside, the Jackets would play well the rest of the way. Not as good as the second, but it was even. Unfortunately even isn’t enough to win. A nothingburger powerplay later and Pittsburgh would win 5-3.
Three defensive collapses. Two horrid bounces. And another loss in Pittsburgh. See y’all Thursday.