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GAME RECAP: Penguins vs. Blue Jackets (03.07.23) | Zucker Reaches 20-Goal Milestone



After a long road trip, the Penguins finally returned home to Pittsburgh, where the Columbus Blue Jackets were waiting for them. This game would mark the Penguins debuts for Alex Nylander and trade deadline-acquisition Dmitry Kulikov. Columbus got off to a strong start: in the opening period, Bemstrom, Pederson, and Laine each tallied to put the visiting team up, 3-0. In the 2nd period, Foudy added to the Blue Jackets’ lead, making it 4-1 for Columbus. Around the midpoint of regulation time, Jason Zucker got Pittsburgh on the board. Evgeni Malkin found Jason Zucker in front of the Columbus goal, and Zucker turned the puck from forehand to backhand, and was able to elevate it above the outstretched left leg of goaltender Michael Hutchinson. Zucker is the fifth member of the Penguins to score at least 20 goals this season. No team has more 20-goal scorers than the Penguins thus far this season. This is the fifth time in Zucker’s career that he has reached the 20-goal milestone. In the 3rd period, the Penguins finally found a way to get more pucks into the net. 21 seconds into the period, Jake Guentzel scored his 25th of the season to make it 4-2. Guentzel moved the puck across his body to the inside and was able to get it through Hutchinson’s five-hole. Less than three minutes after Guentzel’s goal, Zucker found the back of the net once again to cut the deficit to 4-3. Malkin found Zucker from behind the net once again (this time, from the other side of the ice), and Zucker put it home. 43 seconds after that, number 43 helped the Penguins complete the comeback. Danton Heinen was open right in front of the blue paint, and Rickard Rakell put the puck right on his blade. Heinen tapped it home, and it was 4-4. In overtime, Malkin set Sidney Crosby up for a one-timer, and Crosby absolutely hammered it into the back of the net. Per Penguins PR, tonight marks the ninth time in franchise history (and first since Dec. 11, 2006 at Washington) that the Penguins have erased a four-goal deficit to win. Sidney Crosby (1G-2A), Evgeni Malkin (3A), Jason Zucker (2G), and Rickard Rakell (2A) each had multi-point games.

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48 Comments

  1. Can't lose Zucker, man.
    Not sure if they just lucked out with the goalie being ill but it's a relief to see them on this side of overcoming a deficit with that roster. Hope Alex Nylander gets more time.

  2. Don’t get me wrong, malkin was flat footed and unaware on D leading directly to two goals against this game. But I’ll take 3 points in a comeback to make up for it! 🐧🐧🐧

  3. Don’t get me wrong, malkin was flat footed and unaware on D leading directly to two goals against this game. But I’ll take 3 points in a comeback to make up for it! 🐧🐧🐧

  4. Don’t get me wrong, malkin was flat footed and unaware on D leading directly to two goals against this game. But I’ll take 3 points in a comeback to make up for it! 🐧🐧🐧

  5. WHAT A GAME BOYS!!!! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ELVIS HAS JUST LEFT THE BUILDING!!!! 🖤💛🖤💛

  6. Zucker is so impressive this season.
    He's critical to this team. Good thing we didn't dump him like so many of us wanted! Lol

    Good to see Alex Nylander get in a game!
    I'm pulling for the kid. He's shown some flashes of NHL ability for sure. Hard to believe he hasn't played in the NHL since 2019-2020.

  7. Zuck got absolutely stabbed by Geno after his second goal and took it like nothing happened

  8. Malkin twice not defending and letting the trailer score, awful

  9. I don’t even know what to say. In a must win game against the worst team in the league they were down 0-4 and I thought it was over to be honest. I was pretty crushed and was already getting very pissy. Did not expect this comeback.

  10. Malkin needs to have his skates sharpened. It's a two way shooting range, Geno! Heinen's goal looked staged. lol. I had the same look on my face as Sullivan did, when the jackets scored to make it 4-0. This comeback win didn't take that look completely off my face. LGPs.

  11. What an epic comeback and the GOAT our captain SIDNEY CROSBY who finish this OT, never kill the Penguins. It’s never over!!!

  12. So instead of Hextall fixing the goalie issue by getting Gibson from Anaheim, we have to deal with Jarry and his horrible goaltending.

  13. Embarrassing to go down 4-0 to these chumps in the first place, but happy the boys came together and brought it back.

  14. I can’t wait to see the team at full health. 4 stacked lines. And also for bonino to get his first goal back as a penguin. The place is going to erupt.

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