Columbus Blue Jackets vs Pittsburgh Penguins Match Player Stats On Mar 07, 2023

Sidney Crosby's third point Tuesday was a power-play goal on a blast from the right circle at 2:45 of overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins scored five unanswered goals to top the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4.

Jason Zucker scored twice, Jake Guentzel and Danton Heinen also scored, Evgeni Malkin had three assists and Rickard Rakell contributed two assists for the Penguins, who have won five of six.

Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry gave up four goals on 12 shots before being pulled for Casey DeSmith, who stopped all 15 shots he faced.

Emil Bemstrom and Liam Foudy each had a goal and an assist, Lane Pederson and Patrik Laine also scored and Kent Johnson had two assists for the Blue Jackets, who lost their third straight game (0-2-1).

Columbus goaltender Elvis Merzlikins stopped all seven shots he faced in the first period before falling ill. Michael Hutchinson entered in relief and made 35 saves.

The Penguins played without forwards Bryan Rust, who was excused for personal reasons, and Mikael Granlund, who was ill. Alex Nylander was recalled as an 11th forward and had an assist in his Penguins debut.

Bemstrom's power-play goal got things started at 4:02 of the first period, on a near-side blast from the left dot.

At 7:54 of the first, Pederson increased the gap to 2-0. Pederson, the trailer on a two-on-one, scored on a rebound.

Laine made it 3-0 at 10:11 of the first. Jack Roslovic soared down the left side, curled in front of Jarry and fed Laine in the slot.

At 2:37 of the second, Foudy's rising shot from near the left dot gave the Blue Jackets a four-goal lead and chased Jarry.

Pittsburgh cut it to 4-1 at 10:23 of the second. Malkin fed Zucker in the low slot. Zucker went forehand to backhand to beat Hutchinson.

Guentzel made it 4-2 when he cut in from the right boards and scored short side 21 seconds into the third period.

At 3:16, Zucker struck from the slot again to cut it to 4-3.

Heinen tied it with a tip in front off a feed from Rakell at 3:59.

--Field Level Media