Blue Jackets blast Penguins, end six-game skid

Field Level Media|published: Fri 15th November, 22:02 2024

Nov 15, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Matt Nieto (83) crashes into Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins (90) during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images

Zach Werenski and Dmitri Voronkov each had a goal and an assist while Sean Monahan had two assists as the Columbus Blue Jackets collected a 6-2 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.

Zachary Aston-Reese, Mathieu Olivier, Damon Severson and Cole Sillinger scored the other goals for the Blue Jackets, who snapped a six-game losing streak (0-5-1).

Columbus outshot Pittsburgh 39-22, including a lopsided 19-4 margin in the third period. Voronkov, Severson and Sillinger all scored in the final frame, turning the Jackets' narrow 3-2 lead at the second intermission into a comfortable win.

Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins stopped 21 of 23 shots in his 200th NHL game. Merzlikins' milestone was highlighted by a robbery of a glove save on Anthony Beauvillier late in the second period.

The slumping Penguins are 1-3-2 in their past six games and are winless in their past three games (0-2-1).

Beauvillier had a goal and an assist, extending his goal streak to three games. Michael Bunting also tallied for Pittsburgh.

Tristan Jarry stopped 33 of 37 shots in his first NHL game since Oct. 16. After struggling in his first three NHL outings this season, Jarry was sent to the Penguins' AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton affiliate.

Aston-Reese gave Columbus an early advantage with a tip-in goal 2:20 into the first period. Werenski scored a power-play marker on another redirection at 8:39 of the first, as his one-timer glanced off Penguins forward Noel Acciari and past Jarry.

A fortunate bounce helped Pittsburgh reduce the deficit at 11:51 of the first period. The puck deflected off Sidney Crosby's stick and into the air, falling right at the corner of the net for Beauvillier to deposit his sixth goal of the season.

The unconventional assist was the 1016th of Crosby's career, tying the superstar forward with Joe Sakic for 13th on the NHL's all-time list.

Both teams scored once in the second period. Bunting's power-play goal equalized for Pittsburgh 12:06 into the frame, but Olivier finished off a three-on-one rush at the 16:27 mark to restore the Blue Jackets' lead for good.

--Field Level Media

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