A final farewell for an NHL legend.
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For at least one more time, it was like old times as Marc-Andre Fleury made eight third-period saves and Sidney Crosby scored as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 on Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena.
Rickard Rakell scored twice, and Ville Koivunen scored. Luca Del Bel Belluz scored for Columbus.
Here are the three things that happened from the Blue Jackets’ fifth preseason game.
Thing 1: Del Bel Belluz Helps Spoil Party
Even though this night and exhibition belonged to Fleury, there was still a hockey game to play, and Del Bel Belluz wants to prove what he can contribute this season.
At 16:08 of the first period, he scored his second goal of the preseason to give Columbus a 1-0 lead. Yegor Chinakhov and Corson Ceulemans added the assists.
Del Bel Belluz has played 16 career games and registered eight points (two goals, six assists) in 15 games last season.
Being a preseason game, the two clubs participated in a shootout at the end of the game for practice, and Del Bel Belluz scored a goal that he'll cherish for the rest of his life.
Luca Del Bel Belluz scores the lone goal of the shootout, deking and scoring past Marc-Andre Fleury on the last shot. A memory to take home for Luca, for sure.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) September 28, 2025
Elvis Merzlikins doesn't allow a goal in the shootout, facing Letang, Crosby and Malkin. #CBJ
"Yeah, one hundred percent," Del Bel Belluz said after Saturday's loss. "It could go down as maybe the last goal ever on Fleury, and I guess I can say I have it. It's definitely a moment I'll never forget.
"I don't think I've ever been in a building that loud before."
Thing 2: Merzlikins Allows Three in Full Start
Elvis Merzlikins played his first full 60 minutes of the preseason in net for Columbus. He kept Pittsburgh off the board through the first period before Crosby’s game-tying goal at 5:20 of the second period.
Rakell scored at 19:58 of the second period on the power play and then added an empty-net goal at 17:32 of the third period. Koivunen added a marker at 8:56 of the third period when he intercepted an ill-advised attempt by Merzlikins to play the puck.
VILLE BURIES IT! pic.twitter.com/XeEAlfjVVd
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 28, 2025
Thing 3: A Fitting Farewell For NHL Legend
Fleury has a career ledger of 575-339-97-76 with a 2.60 GAA and .912 save percentage, and is second in career wins behind Martin Brodeur.
Coming off a season with the Minnesota Wild, the future Hall of Famer signed a PTO with the Penguins to play in one final game before hanging it up for good. Fleury played in the third period and saved all eight shots he faced.
In 26 career starts against the Jackets, Fleury was 15-7-2, .921, 2.32, with one shutout.
The final shot on an NHL legend!
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) September 28, 2025
CBJ x @FanaticsBook pic.twitter.com/R1dRAP3S71
In the shootout, the crowd booed Del Bel Belluz when he deked and scored on Fleury, but as they say, you're doing your job on the road if they boo you.
"I think maybe I'll get booed every time I come here now," Del Bel Belluz said with a laugh.
Head coach Dean Evason shared his thoughts.
"One thought is just shoot it in the corner, and the other thought is you gotta play the game, right?" Evason said about Del Bel Belluz's shootout goal.
Merzlikins was perfect in the shootout.
Up Next:
The Blue Jackets are back at it on Tuesday when they host the Washington Capitals at 7 p.m. at Nationwide Arena. The two teams will conclude the preseason on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Capital One Arena.
