Penguins Secure First Overtime โฃWin with Comeback against Blue Jackets
COLUMBUS, OH – โThe pittsburgh โPenguins battled back from a two-goal deficit to defeat the columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime Friday night, securing theirโ first overtime victoryโ of the season. The win also allowed the Penguinsโข to reclaim a wild-card spot โขin the Eastern Conference.
After falling behind 3-1 through two periods, the Penguins mounted a furious comeback in the third, fueled โฃby 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 โฃPittsburgh’s resilience proved decisive.
The Blueโข Jackets took an early leadโข in the second period when Charlie Coyle intercepted a clearing attempt by Kris Letang and set up Werenski forโ a goal with just four seconds remaining, extending Columbus’ lead to 3-1. โPriorโ to that, Letang’s attempt was โfendedโ offโข by Coyle and then Kevin Hayes.
Rust โignitedโข the Penguins’ comeback at 13 seconds of the third period, capitalizing on a play kept alive by Erik Karlsson’s pinch โขalong the right wall.โฃ Crosby then tied the โฃgame at โข3-3 โคat 8:28 of the third, racing into the Columbus โคzone โto retrieve a dump-in and quickly snapping a shot past Columbusโ 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 โKirill Marchenko due to injuries. Penguins coach mike Sullivan made line changes, moving Kevin Hayes to Sidney Crosby’s left wingโ and Tommy Novak to Evgeni Malkin’s left wing.
Karlsson recorded an โassist on Rust’s goal, tying him with Peter Forsberg โฃfor eighth-most points among Swedes in NHL history (885) and moving him intoโข 12th place on theโค NHL’s all-time assist list amongโฃ defensemen โ(684). crosby is currently on pace for โฃa 53-goal season.
