PITTSBURGH — Sidney Crosby scored twice in two unconventional ways as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 on Tuesday night.
Bryan Rust scored for a second straight game and Teddy Blueger, who returned to center, scored for the first time since last March to help the Penguins win their 12th straight against the Blue Jackets.
Crosby's first goal came in the second period, as the veteran forward chipped the puck into the net while being knocked to the ice to give the Penguins the lead. Then later in the period, Crosby planted himself at the right post and had the puck deflect off him into the net to help Pittsburgh improve to 8-1-1 its last 10 games.
Crosby has now tallied 15 goals through 26 games and appears to be on pace for 47, which is the most since he recorded 44 en route to his second Maurice Richard Trophy in 2017.
Johnny Gaudreau gave the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead just 60 seconds into the game with a sharp wrist shot from the left circle that seemingly caught goaltender Tristian Jarry off guard. Columbus controlled play for most of the first period, but Jarry settled down and finished the game with 38 saves to improve to 5-0 in his career against the Blue Jackets.
Gaudreau's ninth goal of the year gave the Blue Jackets a boost early, but the Penguins overwhelmed Elivs Merzlikins, who stopped 30 shots in his first start since Nov. 4.
Columbus has now dropped five of their last six as the offense continues to struggle to find the back of the net. The Blue Jackets have not scored more than two goals in each of the losses.
The Penguins quickly reasserted themselves in the second period. Rust, who went to the locker room in the later part of the first period with an undisclosed issue, returned to jam home a rebound 1:15 into the second for his second goal in as many games. From that point on, all momentum Columbus seemed to have evaporated.
Blue Jackets return home to host the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday.
Columbus 1 0 0 = 1
Pittsburgh 0 3 1 = 4
First Period
CBJ—Johnny Gaudreau (9)Assists: Patrik Laine (3), 1:00. Second Period
PIT—Bryan Rust (7) Assists: Brian Dumoulin (6), 1:15.
PIT—Sidney Crosby (14) Assists: Jake Guentzel (13), Rickard Rakell (6), 2:02.
PIT—Sidney Crosby (15) (Power Play) Assists: Jake Guentzel (14), Evgeni Malkin (17), 10:14.
Third Period PIT—Teddy Blueger (1) Assists: Bryan Rust (9), 16:33.
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