Penguins open preseason with home shootout win against Blue Jackets
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Shootout goals by forwards Alex Nylander and Brayden Yager allowed the Pittsburgh Penguins to open the preseason with a 3-2 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena Sunday afternoon.
A rebound goal by Nylander opened the scoring 9:03 into regulation. After Penguins forward Radim Zohorna flushed out Blue Jackets defenseman Tim Berni from behind the Columbus net with a forecheck, Berni forced a pass to the left circle that was intercepted by Penguins forward Peter Abbadonato who almost immediately backhanded it to the slot for Zohorna. Going to the right of the crease, Zohorna directed the puck to the crease where goaltender Jet Greaves briefly kicked the puck out with his right skate. Nylander followed up on the sequence from the left of the cage and swiped a forehand shot. Zohorna and Abbandonato had assists.
The hosts doubled their lead at 17:00 of the opening period on a score by defenseman P.O Joseph. Settling a puck at the right point of the offensive zone, Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel slid a pass to Joseph at the center point. Surveying for a moment, Joseph gripped and ripped a wrister that glanced off of the left skate of Blue Jackets defenseman Andrew Peeke and deflected through Greaves’ five hole. Ruhwedel and forward Drew O’Connor registered assists.
Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic started the contest and stopped all 18 shots he faced in 29:58 of ice time. As planned, he was replaced by prospect Joel Blomqvist midway through the contest (9:58 of the second period to be precise) to allow Blomqvist some playing time. In 33:47 of ice time, Blomqvist made 14 saves on 16 shots in regulation and overtime and the recorded the win after stopping both shootout attempts he faced by Bemstrom and Boqvist.
A power-play goal by Blue Jackets forward Jack Roslovic at 3:35 of the third period got the Blue Jackets on the scoreboard. From the top of the left circle of the offensive zone, Blue Jackets forward Emil Bemstrom swiped a one-timer. Roslovic was battling for position above the crease and had the puck strike off him and deflect into the cage past the glove of a scrambling Blomqvist. Bemstrom and defenseman Adam Boqvist tallied assists.
The visitors tied the game late in regulation at 17:57 of the third frame. Off an odd-man rush, Blue Jackets forward Owen Sillinger swiped a one-timer from the Penguins’ right circle past Blomqvist’s glove on the near side. Defenseman David Jiricek had the lone assist.
Blue Jackets goaltender Aaron Dell, who replaced Greaves, by design, at 11:31 of the second period, was charged with the loss after allowing Nylander and Yager to score in the shootout. Dell stopped all nine shots he faced in regulation and overtime.
Notes: Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman left the contest at 13:03 of the third period after being struck in the face by a puck. According to assistant coach Mike Vellucci, Friedman received stitches and is expected to be fine. … Kori Cheverie, appointed to a guest coaching position in June, worked the game from the home bench. She is believed to be the first woman to work behind the bench in any capacity for the franchise. … The Penguins and Blue Jackets are scheduled to face off again Sunday night at Nationwide Arena in the second of two split-squad games. That contest is scheduled to begin shortly after 7 p.m.