{"id":90175,"date":"2026-01-18T14:51:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T14:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/90175\/"},"modified":"2026-01-18T14:51:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T14:51:09","slug":"penguins-overcome-awful-start-cant-overcome-another-shootout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/90175\/","title":{"rendered":"Penguins Overcome Awful Start, Can’t Overcome Another Shootout"},"content":{"rendered":"

PITTSBURGH \u2014 The Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> started terribly, regrouped to look unbeatable, and then reverted to their earlier, very vulnerable play against the Columbus Blue Jackets. <\/p>\n

But for the third time this season, the Penguins rallied to erase a third-period Columbus lead to force overtime, and for the second time this month, scored with an extra attacker. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby<\/a> threw his hands in the air to celebrate his deflection\u2013the tying goal\u2013at 18:59 of the third. <\/p>\n

However, the Penguins and goalie Arturs Silovs\u2019s struggles continued in the shootout, and Charlie Coyle\u2019s score in the fourth round of the SO delivered Columbus a 4-3 shootout win on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena. <\/p>\n

Silovs fell to 1-6 in the shootout this season.<\/p>\n

Egor Chinakhov was the only Penguins shooter to score, while Silovs stopped two of four attempts. <\/p>\n

The Penguins had several chances to win in overtime. <\/p>\n

Ben Kindel had a short breakaway at the beginning of overtime, and Evgeni Malkin had a pair of open wristshots within 15 feet just seconds later, but Merzlikins continued his sterling performance with somewhat unbelievable denials.<\/p>\n

Regulation was an ever-changing environment. <\/p>\n

In the midst of the Penguins\u2019 alternating, Columbus rallied for two goals in the second period, got a few brilliant saves from Merzlikins in the final minutes, but couldn\u2019t withstand the Penguins barage.<\/p>\n

The Penguins were stunningly out-of-sync in the opening minutes. With the efficacy of running down the street after missing the bus, the Penguins were a step late and in the wrong spots. <\/p>\n

Former Penguins grinder Zach Aston-Reese took advantage of his first game back in the lineup after some healthy scratches, scoring the game\u2019s first goal when he was first to a loose puck in the slot. Aston-Reese (1) turned and whipped the shot past Penguins goalie Arturs Silovs<\/a> at just 2:42. <\/p>\n

Eventually, the Penguins settled down. They figured out the bus schedule and began to take Columbus to school, scoring the next two goals and not allowing a shot on goal for the final 12:07 of the period. <\/p>\n

The Penguins scored two goals after yielding the first one. Connor Clifton was the lucky recipient of a puck that seemed destined for him as it glided past a couple of defenders and Penguins winger Egor Chinakhov<\/a>. Clifton (1) stepped into the wrist shot from the right circle, beating Columbus netminder Elvis Merzlikins at 9:59 of the first period. <\/p>\n

The Penguins\u2019 top line scored the next goal, flashing the high-end skill that put two members on their respective Olympic teams (and should have landed the third a Team USA spot). <\/p>\n

Crosby intercepted a rim-around in the left corner and immediately fired a pass into the slot. Rickard Rakell contorted himself to quickly redirect it over Merzlikins\u2019s glove for a 2-1 lead at 17:52. <\/p>\n

The Penguins outshot Columbus 11-4 in the first period (then changed to 12-4, then later changed to 10-4). <\/p>\n

Each team had its turn to dominate play in the second period, but Columbus spent far more time dictating play in the Penguins\u2019 zone than the diametric. <\/p>\n

Columbus earned the important equalizer midway through the period when the Penguins got flat-footed, and Kirill Marchenko pounced on a loose puck in the neutral zone, racing ahead of Crosby and quickly by defenseman Brett Kulak to beat Silovs with a heavy wrister from the right circle at 7:32. <\/p>\n

The former Penguins reunion continued late in the second period with a go-ahead goal when Danton Heinen flashed some physicality, outmuscling Connor Clifton<\/a> to tip Erik Gudbranson\u2019s point shot past Silovs for a 3-2 lead at 17:38. <\/p>\n

The other assist went to Egor Zamula<\/a>, who was briefly part of the Penguins organization last month but refused to report to the Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins, allowing the team to terminate his contract. <\/p>\n

Penguins Notes<\/p>\n

The Penguins won the previous two meetings with Columbus in overtime, including their dramatic comeback win on Jan. 4, in which they scored four unanswered goals to overcome a 4-1 deficit. <\/p>\n

It was the third game for the new Columbus coach, Rick Bowness. Columbus won his previous two. <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a> Penguins game<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> <\/p>\n

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