Written by: Zachary Worstell (zdw001@marietta.edu)
The cannons were firing at Nationwide Arena on Wednesday night as the Colombus Blue Jackets scored a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Jackets move to 2-2-0 while the Penguins are 0-1-1 this preseason. This Saturday, Columbus travels to Pittsburgh in a rematch, this time with Marc-Andre Fleury in net.
Arturs Silovs got his first start for the Pens after acquiring him from the Vancouver Canucks. As for the first Penguins preseason game on Monday, Sergei Murashov got the start with Joel Blomqvist substituting in the shoot-out loss versus the Montreal Canadians. Silovs saved 12/14 during his time in net.
Charlie Coyle made his debut for the Jackets. CBJ acquired Coyle during the 2025 NHL Draft when he was traded from the Colorado Avalanche for prospect Gavin Brindley and some draft picks. Jet Greaves was in net for the Blue Jackets, likely to be the team’s primary backup to Elvis Merzlikins this season. Greaves saw some pressure saw six shots in the first period. Of those six, halfway through the first the Penguin’s Zach Gallant scored off a face off.
The Penguins lead wouldn’t last the for the full first, as Yegor Chinakhov sent one over Silovs’ glove hand for a goal. The Union soldiers fired the cannon and waved their American flags as they game was all tied up after the first period 1-1.
In the second period, Dmitri Voronkov blinded Silovs as Jake Christiansen knocked one in from afar during a power play. Late in the second period, 2025 11th overall pick Benjamin Kindel nearly scored however was tripped resulting in a penalty kill for the Blue Jackets. However, the Blue Jackets penalty kill was successful as they kept the lead 2-1.
In the third, the Penguins pulled Silovs for last season’s AHL starter Filip Larsson. Boone Jenner helped block Larsson for Kent Johnson to drive in another power play goal halfway into the third. This was the primary issue for the young Penguins; they drew seven penalties in the game. Down 3-1, the Penguins pulled Larsson with 3 minutes left, however, Dante Fabbro sent one down the ice for an empty netter to end the game 4-1. Larsson came in to finish the period and ended the night saving 8/9.
Greaves was awarded the third star of the game as he went 24/25 between the pipes Christiansen was the second star with one goal, and Chinakhov was the first star with a goal and an assist. Each player through their sticks into the crowd as a sendoff.
Pittsburgh hosts the Detriot Red Wings on Friday at 7:00 p.m. While the Blue Jackets next game is versus Pittsburgh in PPG on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
