Thrilling Matchup: Penguins vs. Blue Jackets
In a thrilling matchup on January 18, 2026, the Pittsburgh Penguins faced off against the Columbus Blue Jackets, with Arturs Silovs stepping in as the Penguins’ goalie in their ongoing rotation. The game began with Columbus striking first; just over two minutes into the first period, Zach Werenski’s shot redirected off Noel Acciari and fell perfectly for Zach Aston-Reese, who quickly capitalized to put Columbus ahead, 1-0.
Penguins Respond
The Penguins, however, didn’t take long to respond. Connor Clifton found the net, scoring his first goal of the season shortly after Aston-Reese. Clifton demonstrated excellent positioning deep in the offensive zone and tied the game at 1-1. Just minutes later, Sidney Crosby intercepted a mishandled puck in Columbus’s zone and set up Rickard Rakell for a quick shot, giving the Penguins a 2-1 lead.
Pittsburgh’s defensive efforts seemed to diminish after their second goal, with Columbus managing only two shots in a span of 17 minutes but starting to build momentum. During the second period, Kirill Marchenko equalized for the Blue Jackets by firing a shot into the goal after a quick play from the neutral zone. The teams were evenly matched until Danton Heinen redirected an Erik Gudbranson point shot late in the second, propelling Columbus into a 3-2 lead, a situation the Penguins struggled to contend with given their limited scoring attempts, managing only eight shots in total.
Final Period and Overtime
In the third period, the Penguins fought to regain control, successfully killing off remaining penalties but falling short offensively despite several near-misses for Crosby and Clifton. Pittsburgh finally managed to even the score once again with just over a minute remaining when Kris Letang‘s shot was expertly redirected by Crosby, making it 3-3 with only one minute left on the clock.
Overtime brought about a string of chances for both teams, including saves from Silovs against Columbus’s Adam Fantilli and Evgeni Malkin‘s attempts. The shootout would ultimately determine the outcome. Penguins’ Rakell saw his attempt thwarted by Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins, while Kent Johnson found success with a backhand shot for Columbus. Crosby, attempting to bring Pittsburgh ahead, hit the glove and was unable to score.
With a chance to win, Fantilli was denied by Silovs as well, leading to Egor Chinakhov needing to score to keep Columbus alive – which he managed to do, before Marchenko had the opportunity to secure the win. Despite his impressive 5/5 success rate during the season, Silovs made a critical stop. The shootout continued, with Bryan Rust unable to capitalize before Coyle‘s successful shot ended the game, giving Columbus a 4-3 victory.
Key Takeaways
The match served as a reminder of the Penguins’ power play struggles, as they finished 0 for 3 on the night, significantly hampering their potential chances. Nevertheless, Clifton’s performance marked a positive takeaway for the team, who are navigating a competitive season. Looking ahead, the Penguins must prepare for their next challenge against Seattle, just a short time after this intense encounter, highlighting the demanding schedule of the NHL amidst an Olympic year. Overall, the game exemplified both the unpredictability of hockey and the need for teams to capitalize on opportunities while responding to their opponents effectively.
