Pittbsurgh Penguins leaving it late again...

Pittsburgh Penguins (2) vs Columbus Blue Jackets (7)

The Pittsburgh Penguins took the series lead on the road last night, coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period to defeat the inexperienced Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. The Penguins heavily outshot the Blues Jackets in Game 3, over doubling their shot total 41-20. This is the second time in the series Pittsburgh has come back from a two goal third period deficit. Thus far every game has been decided by single goal, all by the same scoreline.

Jack Johnson scores in 3rd straight game

Boone Jenner scored his first goal of the post-season after just 1:38, snapping up a rebound from Jack Skille's shot that Marc-Andre Fleury couldn't contain. The lead was doubled less 2 minutes later when Jack Johnson scored for the third straight game from a similar situation, The puck was loose in front of Fleury but he couldn't get it covered. Coach Dan Bylsma elected not to replace Fleury despite giving up 2 goals on 3 shots to start the game.

The Columbus lead was reduced to one late in the second period, Brooks Orpik received a pass in the high slot from Beau Bennett, span, faked and waited as the Columbus defenseman slide in front of him before releasing a hard low shot, beating former Vezina winner Sergie Bobrovsky through the 5-hole with less than 2 seconds on the clock.

Pittsburgh rally for 3 goals on 3 shots

It didn't take Columbus long to get the two goal cushion back, just 1:04 into the third Cam Atkinson deflected a shot past Fleury to keep the Blue Jackets afloat. Unfortunately for Columbus Pittsburgh made their third period shots count, scoring on 3 consecutive shots to erase the deficit and put themselves up a goal with just under 12 minutes to go. Brandon Sutter, Lee Stempniak and Jussi Jokinen were the scorers.


Columbus now need to win their next home game before the series shift back to Pittsburgh to avoid losing the home advantage they stole in Game 2.