The Pittsburgh Penguins secured a decisive 6-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 21, 2025, at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. The game showcased the Penguins' recent surge in form, as they have now won five of their last six matches. Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic was pivotal in this achievement, making an impressive 44 saves to help his team clinch the victory.
Sidney Crosby led the way for the Penguins with a goal and an assist, extending his point streak to six games—during which he has notched six goals and four assists. He wasn't alone in contributing to the scoreline, as Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell also registered a goal and an assist each, alongside strikes from Evgeni Malkin, Noel Acciari, and Bokondji Imama.
The opening moments of the game were fast-paced, with Malkin scoring first just 5:28 into the match. He skillfully knocked a loose puck off the stick of Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski, flipping it into the net from close range.
As the first period progressed, both teams demonstrated their offensive might with three goals scored in the brief span of just 1:02. Acciari extended the Penguins' lead to 2-0 at 6:09 left in the first, scoring off a rebound following a faceoff win in the Blue Jackets' zone. However, 16 seconds later, Boone Jenner brought Columbus back into contention, scoring his first goal of the season after missing much of the year due to shoulder surgery. He tipped in a shot from defenseman Denton Mateychuk, making the score 2-1.
Shortly after, Rakell restored the Penguins' two-goal cushion with a goal at 5:07 left in the first, tipping in a clever pass from Rust.
The Blue Jackets came close again at the start of the second period when Justin Danforth was credited with a goal, which came after a goalmouth scramble saw Pittsburgh defenseman Conor Timmins accidentally put the puck into his own net, narrowing the deficit to 3-2 just 1:35 into the period.
Nonetheless, the Penguins responded effectively. Imama scored an explosive one-timer from the left circle at 8:15 in the second, bringing the score to 4-2. Sidney Crosby further increased the lead to 5-2 with a clever tip-in at 4:29 left in the second period.
In the third period, Kent Johnson from the Blue Jackets managed to reduce the score to 5-3 with a strike from the bottom of the right circle after weaving around behind the net, demonstrating the Blue Jackets' continuing fight. However, with just under two minutes remaining, Rust sealed the Penguins' win with an empty-net goal, making it 6-3 and solidifying the Penguins' growing momentum.
The Penguins now boast a record of 29-32-10, accumulating 68 points this season, while the Blue Jackets have slipped to 31-29-9, remaining at 71 points. This loss marked the sixth consecutive defeat for the Blue Jackets (0-5-1), leaving them in a precarious position as they look to regroup and find their footing in the league.
With the performance by Sidney Crosby and his teammates, the Penguins have shown they are serious about pushing for a playoff spot as they head towards the final stretch of the regular season. Each game counts, and with Crosby’s point streak now extended, Pittsburgh will be eager to maintain their winning ways. On the other hand, the Blue Jackets will need to rally quickly to turn their fortunes around.
