With Matt Murray sidelined with an injury, Marc-Andre Fleury has stepped up in a big way for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first two games of their series with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
On Friday night in Pittsburgh, Fleury stopped 39 shots to help the Pens to a 4-1 win over the Jackets and a 2-0 series lead.
“I was more comfortable, more relaxed [than in Game 1],” Fleury said. “[Knowing I was going to start] is always a good thing. It’s fun when you’re home and get that much support from the crowd.”
Sidney Crosby had a goal and three points on the night.
“It just comes down to execution,” Crosby said. “If you execute, you make that little pass or that 10-foot pass, or you’re able to beat that guy, then there’s a chance to be had. So, I thought we did a better job as a group of doing that.”
Patric Hornqvist, Jake Guentzel and Evgeni Malkin also scored for the Pens.
Columbus had outshot the Pens 8-0 before Crosby netted a goal on the Pens’ first shot for a 1-0 lead.
“It’s funny, just the way those bounces are going. But once they start bouncing our way, watch out, Columbus’ Nick Foligno said of the bad bounces the Jackets are getting early in the series.
Brandon Saad had the lone goal for the Jackets in the loss.
“I thought we did a lot of the things we wanted to do,” Columbus head coach John Tortorella said. “I’m proud of our club. The way they’ve handled themselves. The way they’ve done all the things we’re asking them to do. So, we’ll see them tomorrow, lick our wounds and we’ll face off again.”
[WATCH: All Blue Jackets vs. Penguins highlights | RELATED: Complete Columbus vs. Pittsburgh series coverage]
Sergei Bobrovsky took the loss on saves.
“I could be better. Obviously, if we’ve lost two games, the goalie could be better. The series goes on and I’ll keep working,” Bobrovsky said after the loss in Game 2.
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