Pittsburgh 4, Columbus 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 24, 2018
Where: PPG PAINTS Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Referees:
Kendrick Nicholson, Dan O'Halloran
Linesmen:
Devin Berg, Kory Nagy
Attendance:
18602
By Field Level Media
Jake Guentzel picked up his first career regular-season hat trick Saturday to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins past the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 in a Metropolitan Division matchup.
Tanner Pearson also scored, Kris Letang had three assists and Sidney Crosby had two assists for Pittsburgh, which is 3-7-3 in its past 13 games but has points in four straight.
The Penguins have won six in a row against the Blue Jackets.
Pittsburgh goalie Casey DeSmith stopped 37 of 39 Columbus shots.
Scott Harrington and Cam Atkinson scored for Columbus, which was 6-1-1 in its previous eight games.
Joonas Korpisalo made 32 saves for the Blue Jackets.
Harrington, a former Penguin, scored his fourth career goal for a 1-0 Columbus lead at 5:14 of the first period. His shot from the slot grazed DeSmith's left arm.
Pearson tied it just 45 seconds later. Evgeni Malkin won a faceoff to Korpisalo's right, with the puck going to Phil Kessel, who quickly fed Pearson for a shot off the goaltender's left pad. All three of Pearson's goals this season have come in the past four games.
Guentzel got his night started 1:28 later to give Pittsburgh the lead for good. Crosby, down low, fed Guentzel with a backhand pass.
Those two hooked up on a similar play at 16:31 of the first, Crosby again using his backhand to set up Guentzel to make it 3-1.
Crosby and Guentzel, part of the Penguins' top line, were playing without right winger Patric Hornqvist, who sustained a concussion a night earlier.
Atkinson extended his goal streak to seven games, longest in the NHL this season, to cut it to 3-2 at 13:04 of the second. He snapped a shot past defenseman Olli Maatta and under DeSmith's pads.
Guentzel completed his hat trick at 15:54 of the second, this time on a rebound, for his team-leading 11th goal and a 4-2 Pittsburgh edge.
The Blue Jackets' Alexander Wennberg (incidental goalie interference) and the Penguins' Kessel (offsides) had potential goals waived off in the second period.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
Columbus |
|
Pittsburgh |
Cam Atkinson 1 |
Points |
Jake Guentzel 3 |
Cam Atkinson 1 |
Goals |
Jake Guentzel 3 |
Brandon Dubinsky 1 |
Assists |
Kris Letang 3 |
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
N/A |
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
Joonas Korpisalo .889 |
Save Percentage |
Casey DeSmith .949 |
Joonas Korpisalo 32 |
Saves |
Casey DeSmith 37 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
Columbus
|
39 |
2 |
0-1 |
1-1 |
2 |
43 |
Pittsburgh
|
36 |
4 |
0-1 |
1-1 |
2 |
28 |
Upcoming Games
-
Pittsburgh will play their next game on the road against Winnipeg. The Penguins have a W/L % of .375 after a win and .429 after a loss.
-
Columbus will play their next game on the road against Detroit. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .385 after a win and .800 after a loss.