Crosby scores 25th goal, helps Penguins beat Blue Jackets 6-3
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sidney Crosby scored his 25th goal and added an assist and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3 on Friday night.
Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust both had a goal and an assist, and Evgeni Malkin, Noel Acciari and Bokondji Imama also scored for the Penguins, who are 22-3-4 in their last 28 games against Columbus. Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 44 shots in his first start since March 7.
Boone Jenner scored his first since returning from shoulder surgery, while Kent Johnson and Justin Danforth also scored for Columbus, which couldn’t rally from a 5-2 deficit. Elvis Merzlikins, who started Thursday’s 1-0 overtime loss against Florida, made 28 saves on Friday.
Crosby became the 13th player in NHL history to record at least 15 seasons with at leasdt 25 goals. He is four points from passing Wayne Gretzky and clinching a NHL-record 20th point-per-game season. He has six goals and 10 points during a six-game point streak. Crosby also has points in 12 straight home games, fifth-longest in NHL history by a player 37 or older.
The Blue Jackets are 1-8 in the second game of back-to-backs this season. They have four goals in their last five games.
TakeawaysBlue Jackets: Columbus lost its sixth straight game and remained three points behind Montreal for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. The Blue Jackets have lost eight of nine overall.
Penguins: Pittsburgh won for the fifth time in six games. The Penguins had a four-game winning streak before a 4-2 home loss against the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
Key momentImama gave Pittsburgh a 4-2 lead with a one-timer shortly after a faceoff win in the offensive zone at 8:15 of the second period.
Key statThe Penguins have four regulation losses at home against Columbus (24-4-1) dating back to the 2000-01 season.
Up nextPenguins visit Florida on Sunday, and Blue Jackets play at the New York Islanders on Monday.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Topics
-
Crosby scores 25th goal, helps Penguins beat Blue Jackets 6-3
Sidney Crosby scored his 25th goal and added an assist and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3ABC News - 10h -
Ryan Graves scores 1st goal of season, Penguins beat Blues 5-3
Ryan Graves scored 2:17 into the game and the Pittsburgh Penguins never trailed Thursday night in a 5-3 win over the St. Louis Blues. Graves' goal was his first of the season, and Conor Timmins ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14 -
Erik Karlsson's power-play goal carries Penguins past Devils, 7-3
Erik Karlsson scored a power-play goal and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New Jersey Devils 7-3 on Saturday. Rickard Rakell scored his team-leading 31st goal. Connor Dewar scored twice, and ...Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Adin Hill makes 27 saves and Vegas Golden Knights beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0
Adin Hill made 27 saves, Nicolas Roy and Brandon Saad had a goal and an assist each as the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 on Thursday night. Pavel Dorofeyev scored and ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14 -
Can Penguins Achieve Goal Scoring Feat For Second Time In Crosby Era?
Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Joona Koppanen scored his first NHL goal on Tuesday night against the New York Islanders.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Shane Wright scores 2, Adam Larsson has goal and assist as Kraken beat Blackhawks 6-2
Shane Wright scored twice, Adam Larsson had a goal and two assists, and the Seattle Kraken beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-2 on Tuesday night. Matty Beniers had a goal and an assist, Jordan Eberle ...Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Engvall gets tiebreaking goal in Islanders' four-goal 3rd period to beat Penguins 4-2
Pierre Engvall scored the tiebreaking goal in New York's four-goal third period, and the Islanders rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 on Tuesday night. Kyle Palmieri had a goal and two ...Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Columbus Blue Jackets stagger out of playoff spot with third straight loss: 3 takeaways
After another early goal allowed and not scoring for a second straight game, the Blue Jackets are out of a playoff spot and reeling: 3 takeawaysYahoo Sports - 6d -
Boeser scores 2 goals as Canucks beat Western Conference-leading Jets 6-2
Brock Boeser scored twice and had an assist as the Vancouver Canucks handed the Winnipeg Jets a 6-2 drubbing on Tuesday night. Pius Suter added two goals, including one into an empty net, while ...Yahoo Sports - 3d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Saints showing strong interest in BYU offensive tackle prospect with rare measurables
The New Orleans Saints have had many meetings at many events during the 2025 offseason, several of which focused on a BYU offensive line prospect.Yahoo Sports - 12m -
St. John's player did a 'sniper' bench celebration that disappointed fans
St. John's player Brady Dunlap did a sniper celebration that March Madness fans didn't love.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Michael Page targets Colby Covington or Kamaru Usman for next UFC fight
LONDON – Michael Page wants his next fight to be against an elder statesman of the UFC welterweight division. Page (23-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC), who's coming off a unanimous decision victory over Shara ...Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Updated NCAA Tournament East Region bracket, television schedule entering round of 32
An updated look at what the Wisconsin Badgers face en route to the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and beyond. Complete with a full second-round TV scheduleYahoo Sports - 17m -
Another former Bengals player joins Texans in NFL free agency
Former Bengals players keep going to Houston in free agency.Yahoo Sports - 21m
More in Sports
-
Saints showing strong interest in BYU offensive tackle prospect with rare measurables
The New Orleans Saints have had many meetings at many events during the 2025 offseason, several of which focused on a BYU offensive line prospect.Yahoo Sports - 12m -
St. John's player did a 'sniper' bench celebration that disappointed fans
St. John's player Brady Dunlap did a sniper celebration that March Madness fans didn't love.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Michael Page targets Colby Covington or Kamaru Usman for next UFC fight
LONDON – Michael Page wants his next fight to be against an elder statesman of the UFC welterweight division. Page (23-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC), who's coming off a unanimous decision victory over Shara ...Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Updated NCAA Tournament East Region bracket, television schedule entering round of 32
An updated look at what the Wisconsin Badgers face en route to the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and beyond. Complete with a full second-round TV scheduleYahoo Sports - 17m -
England thrive in Thomas Tuchel's debut as Jude Bellingham stars and an answer at left back finally emerges
Tuchel led his side to a solid 2-0 win over Albania as England began World Cup qualifyingCBS Sports - 17m