Penguins Secure First Overtime Win with Comeback against Blue Jackets
COLUMBUS, OH – The pittsburgh Penguins battled back from a two-goal deficit to defeat the columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime Friday night, securing their first overtime victory of the season. The win also allowed the Penguins to reclaim a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
After falling behind 3-1 through two periods, the Penguins mounted a furious comeback in the third, fueled by goals from Bryan Rust and Sidney Crosby. Zach Werenski’s late second-period goal for Columbus initially appeared to put the game out of reach, but Pittsburgh’s resilience proved decisive.
The Blue Jackets took an early lead in the second period when Charlie Coyle intercepted a clearing attempt by Kris Letang and set up Werenski for a goal with just four seconds remaining, extending Columbus’ lead to 3-1. Prior to that, Letang’s attempt was fended off by Coyle and then Kevin Hayes.
Rust ignited the Penguins’ comeback at 13 seconds of the third period, capitalizing on a play kept alive by Erik Karlsson’s pinch along the right wall. Crosby then tied the game at 3-3 at 8:28 of the third, racing into the Columbus zone to retrieve a dump-in and quickly snapping a shot past Columbus goaltender Michael Greaves.
Tristan Jarry stopped 26 of 29 shots for Pittsburgh, while Greaves made 20 saves on 24 shots for Columbus.
The Blue Jackets were without key players Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko due to injuries. Penguins coach mike Sullivan made line changes, moving Kevin Hayes to Sidney Crosby’s left wing and Tommy Novak to Evgeni Malkin’s left wing.
Karlsson recorded an assist on Rust’s goal, tying him with Peter Forsberg for eighth-most points among Swedes in NHL history (885) and moving him into 12th place on the NHL’s all-time assist list among defensemen (684). crosby is currently on pace for a 53-goal season.
