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National Hockey League
Columbus 6, Pittsburgh 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Friday, November 15, 2024
Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Referees: Francis Charron, Beau Halkidis
Linesmen: Tyson Baker, Dan Kelly
Attendance: 18348

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 39-23, including a 19-4 margin in the third period. Voronkov, Severson and Sillinger all scored in the final frame, turning the Jackets' 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 38 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 1,016th 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 a three-on-one rush at the 16:27 mark to restore the Blue Jackets' lead for good.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Pittsburgh   Columbus
Anthony Beauvillier 2 Points Dmitri Voronkov 2
Anthony Beauvillier 1 Goals Dmitri Voronkov 1
Anthony Beauvillier 1 Assists Sean Monahan 2
Michael Bunting 1 Power Play Goals Zach Werenski 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Tristan Jarry .868 Save Percentage Elvis Merzlikins .913
Tristan Jarry 33 Saves Elvis Merzlikins 21
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Pittsburgh 23 2 1-4 4-5 10 28
Columbus 39 6 1-5 3-4 8 31
Upcoming Games
  • Columbus will play their next game on the road against Montreal. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .200 after a win and .455 after a loss.
  • Pittsburgh will play their next game at home against San Jose. The Penguins have a W/L % of .286 after a win and .333 after a loss.