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Columbus Blue Jackets finally end vexing road losing streak to Pittsburgh Penguins
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- Columbus Blue Jackets finally end vexing road losing streak to Pittsburgh Penguins
The Blue Jackets losing streak in Pittsburgh is history after nearly a decade.
Despite losing top center Sean Monahan to an upper-body injury and trailing 3-1 in the third period, the Jackets figured out a way to finally defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in a 4-3 shootout victory. Getting the game's second point also lifted the Blue Jackets (18-17-6) into the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot via tiebreaker over the Penguins (17-17-8), who also have 42 points.
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"It means a lot," center Adam Fantilli said on the FanDuel Sports Network's postgame show. "A lot of people have been talking about (the losing streak in Pittsburgh ) and it felt great to get that win. It's huge."
Jan 7, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) defends the net against Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Matt Nieto (83) during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Dmitri Voronkov scored in the first and third periods to lead the Blue Jackets' offense, but Fantilli keyed a late comeback after taking over Monahan's line in the third while the Penguins built a 3-1 on Rickard Rakell 's two goals. Fantilli earned a secondary assist for starting a play that led to Voronkov's second goal, which cut the Penguins' lead to 3-2 with 7:55 left in regulation, and the young center's ninth goal of the season tied it 3-3 with 2:36 left to cap a power play.
/Jan 7, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) prepares to take the opening face-off against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Fantilli's goal forced OT, which the Penguins largely controlled. Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins (20 saves) made dazzling stops on both Pittsburgh shots in overtime to force the shootout, including one against Penguins captain Sidney Crosby from close range.
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In the shootout, Kent Johnson scored in the first round and Kirill Marchenko (two assists) won it with a goal in the third against Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry (26 saves).
"A lot of guys played, hopefully, happy minutes that they didn't or wouldn't play (without Monahan's injury)," Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason told reporters in Pittsburgh. "To lose 'Monny,' he's a major, major piece of our hockey club, but I love the way the guys responded."
Jan 7, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) defends the net against Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust (17) during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Prior to the game, the Penguins were 15-0-0 at home against Columbus since Nov. 13, 2015, when they'd last lost to the Blue Jackets, 2-1, on goals by Scott Hartnell and Brandon Saad plus Sergei Bobrovsky 's 28 saves. Hartnell is now several years into retirement, Saad plays for the St. Louis Blues and Bobrovsky backstopped the Florida Panthers to the 2024 Stanley Cup.
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"I don't know who talked about it this morning or someone said something about it in the coaches' room, maybe ( Jared Boll ), who'd been here for a while (as a player)," Evason said. "This is a different team than in the past 10 years, whatever it's been. We're a different hockey club. We're playing the way the Columbus Blue Jackets play today in order to win. So, what's happened in the past, it means nothing. ... This group, if we play hard like that every night, we'll give ourselves a chance to win regardless if we haven't won somewhere."
Monahan's health is the biggest concern for the Blue Jackets leaving Pittsburgh this time. Evason didn't have an update after the game, saying the Blue Jackets' medical staff should get a better idea Tuesday in Columbus.
Jan 7, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust (17) chases the puck up ice as Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) defends during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The veteran center skated just one shift in the third period after getting rammed face first into the boards in the second period by an unpenalized cross-check from Pittsburgh's Kris Letang . Monahan is the Blue Jackets' third-leading scorer and a vital member of a vastly-improved power-play, so missing him for any length of time would cause a giant void.
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He started the third period, but quickly left after Rakell's first goal made it 2-1 Penguins just 24 seconds into the period. That's when the Jackets turned to a three-center rotation that included Fantilli shifting with Voronkov and Kirill Marchenko (two assists) on Monahan's line.
"We're hoping Monny's OK," Fantilli said. "He's a huge part of our team and a huge part of what we've been doing lately, but I thought I clicked well with those guys. Things went well, and we were able to get the win, so it was huge."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets finally end road slide vs Pittsburgh Penguins
