In Columbus Sunday, Jake Guentzel scored a hat trick for the Pittsburgh Penguins to send them to a 5-4 overtime win over the Blue Jackets and a 3-0 series lead.
He completed his trick at the 13:10 mark of the first overtime period.
“It’s kind of out of my head, kind of weird, but a pretty unique night,” Guentzel said. “Things were bouncing my way. Two off the back boards was pretty lucky.”
Early it looked like the Blue Jackets were loaded up to get back in the series.
Columbus held a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes of play.
With just 11 seconds gone in the game Cam Atkinson staked the Jackets to a 1-0 lead that the crowd into the game.
Guentzel scored to tie the game at 1-1.
Zach Werenski scored in the fist and Atkinson added a second goal in the frame.
Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin rallied in the Pens to tie it at 3-3.
Guentzel’s second of the game gave the Pens a 4-3 lead midway through the third period.
Brandon Dubinsky got the teams back to even with under five minutes left in regulation.
Marc-Andre Fleury got the win on 33 saves.
Fleury continues to prove the Pens front office correct when they opted not to trade him away this season; he has been exceptional in this series in backstopping the Pens to a 3-0 lead in the series.
“The resilience and the resolve we show is part of the fabric of our identity, and it has to be to have success in this league at this time of the year,” Penguins’ head coach Mike Sullivan said.
[WATCH: All Blue Jackets vs. Penguins highlights | RELATED: Complete Columbus vs. Pittsburgh series coverage]
Sergei Bobrovsky took the loss on 42 saves.
“Our backs are against the wall. We have no choice but to get better and push back,” Dubinsky said.
Jason day and friends getting rowdy for the Columbus Blue Jackets
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