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Saturday, September 27, 2025 – 7:00 PM EDT
PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TV: NHL Network and BlueJackets.com; Radio: 93.3 FM
Columbus Blue Jackets (2-2-0)
at
Pittsburgh Penguins (1-1-1)
Previously
The Jackets played their fourth game in as many days on Wednesday, against these Pittsburgh Penguins. Granted, it was the AHL squad of a bad NHL team, but the Jackets’ top players did what they were supposed to do in a 4-1 win. Yegor Chinakhov had a goal and an assist, and the Jackets scored two power play goals, from Jake Christiansen and Kent Johnson.
Rosters
Columbus
Pittsburgh
Not surprisingly, tonight the Penguins are playing all of their long-time veterans: https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-preseason-lineup-versus-blue-jackets-09-27-25?utm_source=social&utm_medium=x
Players to Watch
Marc-Andre Fleury: Wait, didn’t he retire after last season? Yes, but rather than sign a ceremonial one-day contract to retire as a Penguin, team president Kyle Dubas hatched a plan to sign him to a PTO instead, to allow him wear the black and gold one last night time in front of the Yinzer faithful. Part of me rolls my eyes, but part of me thinks it’s pretty cool. Either way, I hope the Jackets score on him during his period of play.
In the meantime, let’s remember my favorite Fleury moment:
Yegor Chinakhov: Can he repeat his two point performance? He should see heavy minutes tonight, including on the power play. If he plays well, he’ll keep getting the minutes he wants.
Jake Christiansen: This will be Christiansen’s fourth preseason game out of five. Ditto for fellow defenseman Daemon Hunt. The coaches have some difficult decisions about who to play on the third pair, and who to keep as the 7th defenseman. Or will they care an 8th too?
Elvis Merzlikins: Elvis should play the whole game today. He needs to look sharper than in his first game.