Groundhog Day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | F | |
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1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
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1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
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CBJ GOALS: |
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Kris Letang scored the overtime game-winner to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 on Friday night at Nationwide Arena.
Sidney Crosby scored twice, and Bryan Rust scored for Pittsburgh. Tristan Jarry made 26 saves.
The win for the Penguins is their third in the last eight.
Zach Werenski had two points with a goal and an assist. Sean Monahan broke a nine-game goalless drought, and Brendan Gaunce scored a shorthanded goal for Columbus. Jet Greaves made 20 saves.
The Blue Jackets have points in seven straight at home (4-0-3). They're 7-0-3 when leading after two periods.
Columbus has points in nine straight with Greaves in net. It’s the eighth overtime in the last nine starts for Greaves.
Crosby's goal started the scoring to give the Penguins the 1-0 lead at 6:10 of the first period. The Penguins are 9-3-3 when scoring first this season.
Sean Monahan scored for Columbus to tie the game 1-1 at 13:40 of the first period to snap a nine-game goalless drought. Before the game, head coach Dean Evason said Monahan is not close to 100% as he's been dealing with unspecified ailments.
#CBJ head coach Dean Evason acknowledged C Sean Monahan is battling through injuries, describing him as a "warrior" for suiting up each night.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) November 28, 2025
"He's as banged up as anybody and doesn't say a bloody word. Just goes out and plays."
In the second period, Gaunce's first career shorthanded goal gave the Jackets its first lead, 2-1, in the second period. With 3.3 seconds left, Werenski added to the lead to make it 3-1.
Rust scored his seventh 13 seconds into the third period, and Crosby's second goal later in the frame tied it. Letang's second of the season, 59 seconds into overtime, was the winner.
"We're sick of talking about it," Werenski said about another blown third-period lead. "I'm sure you guys are sick of asking about it, and I'm sure fans are sick of seeing it.
"At the end of the day, it's on us to find a way to get a win and win in regulation and close a game out."
Here's how the Blue Jackets, once again, came up on the short end of the stick in a post-Thanksgiving showdown:
1st Period:
The Columbus penalty kill was perfect in defending the best power play in the league. Pittsburgh entered the day No. 1 on the man advantage at 31.4% and the Blue Jackets didn't even allow a shot on goal on the Penguins' first attempt.
But they still found the first-period offense.
(6:10 — PIT Goal): Crosby's 14th goal of the season opened the scoring. Kris Letang (8) assisted on the goal.
La complicit entre Kris Letang et Sidney Crosby #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/ooXRG5vC8O
— LNH (@LNH_FR) November 29, 2025
(13:40 — CBJ Goal): Monahan scored his third goal of the year to tie it 1-1. The veteran Brendan Smith picked up his first point as a Blue Jacket, and Damon Severson (7) picked up an assist.
MONNY'S ON THE BOARD!
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) November 29, 2025
CBJ x @FanaticsBook pic.twitter.com/FBsrfIAmTl
2nd Period:
(3:51 — CBJ Goal): It’s hard to follow up with a better penalty kill than the first time out. Unless you can score.
That’s what Gaunce did for his first career shorthanded goal and his first goal of the season to make it 2-1. Miles Wood (2) and Werenski assisted (15). Werenski moved into the team lead for assists and points (23).
First career SHG and first goal for Gaunce. Wood (2) and Werenski (15) the assists. #CBJpic.twitter.com/AzpTXLJ7QV
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 29, 2025
(19:54 — CBJ Goal): Werenski’s ninth was assisted by Charlie Coyle (12) in the closing seconds of the second period. In addition to taking over the team lead for points and assists, Werenski is now also the goal leader for Columbus, breaking the tie with Kirill Marchenko.
The assist for Coyle is his 500th career point (192 goals, 308 assists).
Z ACTIVATED HEATSEEKER!
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) November 29, 2025
CBJ x @FanaticsBook pic.twitter.com/yiFBMjYy9i
3rd Period:
(:13 — PIT Goal): There’s something about the third period for Columbus and trying to preserve leads. Rust’s seventh only seconds into the third cut the lead to one. Erik Karlsson (14) picked up an assist.
#Penguins 2 @ #BlueJackets 3 [P3-19:47]:
— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalsVideo) November 29, 2025
Goal: Bryan Rust (7)
37' Deep Snapshot
Assists: K.Hayes (2), P.Wotherspoon (7)#LetsGoPens #CBJ #NHL pic.twitter.com/7MKrqmUJya
(8:28 — PIT Goal): Crosby’s second goal tied the game 3-3. Tommy Novak (6) and Parker Wotherspoon (7) assisted. The goal is the 640th of Crosby's career, tying Dave Andreychuk for 15th all-time in NHL history.
Sidney Crosby ties Dave Andreychuk for 15th on the NHL's all-time goals list with career goal No. 640! pic.twitter.com/PNbFOrsmiC
— NHL (@NHL) November 29, 2025
Overtime:
(0:59 — PIT Goal): Letang scored his second of the year and his 12th career overtime game-winner. Novak (seven) added his second assist. Pittsburgh improved to 1-5 in overtime/shootout this year.
Kris Letang, overtime hero pic.twitter.com/nrTIvd8HKe
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 29, 2025
| PIT | GAME STATS | CBJ |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | SHOTS | 29 |
| 49.2% | FACEOFFS | 50.8% |
| 0/2 | POWER PLAY | 0/2 |
| 2/2 | PENALTY KILL | 2/2 |
| 18 | HITS | 16 |
| 13 | GIVEAWAYS | 19 |
| 5 | TAKEAWAYS | 3 |
| 20 | BLOCKED SHOTS | 14 |
| ALL SITUATIONS ADVANCED STATS | ||
| 2.6 | EXPECTED GOALS | 3.93 |
| 57 | SHOT ATTEMPTS | 63 |
| 32 | SCORING CHANCES | 34 |
| 12 | HIGH-DANGER CHANCES | 17 |
| Data via NHL.com & NaturalStatTrick.com | ||
Stat Chat:
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Columbus has five shorthanded goals in the last 10 games against Pittsburgh. They previously went the first 18 home games without a shorthanded goal against the Penguins.
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Entering play, the Blue Jackets had won eight of nine and 10 of the last 12 games on Black Friday.
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Columbus has points in its last seven home games, dating back to Oct. 29.
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For the second consecutive game, the Blue Jackets squandered a third-period lead before losing in overtime. It's the fourth game in the last five that the Blue Jackets have let a third-period lead get away before the game was decided in overtime (1-0-3).
- The Blue Jackets have gone to overtime in their last four home games (1-0-3).
Up Next:
As the calendar flips to December, the Blue Jackets are in the middle of an important stretch, with their next six games against Eastern Conference foes. They'll hit the road for a one-game stop in New Jersey to face the Devils on Monday, Dec. 1. Puck-drop is set for 7 p.m. at Prudential Center.
