Pittsburgh Penguins @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 2025 Preseason Game 4

It's always a party when the rival Pittsburgh Penguins come to town, even if it is preseason! The Blue Jackets would also feature more veterans in the lineup tonight, and it was a fun preview of what's to come this 25th Season of Blue Jackets Hockey. At 9:45, the Penguins would hop on the scoreboard first as Zach Gallant would score his first goal of his preseason campaign. Ville Koivunen would have the only assist on this goal, and it would be the first of his preseason campaign. After getting back into the groove of being on the ice, Yegor Chinakov would score his first goal of the preseason, tying the game at 1-1. His goal would make the cannon go BANG at 17:24. In his first period of the preseason, Zach Werenski would add his first assist, while Dante Fabro would do the same, picking up his first assist on the secondary. The opening period would conclude with that 1-1 score. 

The Blue Jackets would come out charged and ready to score in Period 2. Jake Christiansen would get the job done at 4:53. This would mark his first goal of the preseason, and a power play one for the cherry on top! Charlie Coyle would score his first point as a Blue Jacket with the primary assist, while Yegor Chinakov would extend his point party with his first assist of the preseason on the secondary. This would be the only goal of the period, giving the Jackets a one-goal advantage ahead of the final period of regulation. 

In Period 3, the Penguins would get a bit sloppy. In a matter of seconds, Connor Clifton would get 2 minutes in the box for tripping Dimitri Voronkov, and Connor Dewer would join him for his own 2 minutes after holding Kent Johnson. This would lead to the Blue Jackets having a 5-on-3 man advantage and Kent Johnson's first goal of the preseason at 11:12! Zach Werenski would add his second assist of the game and his preseason on the primary, while Kirill Marchenko would add his first assist of the preseason on the secondary. With Connor Dewer still in the box, the Penguins would skate up the Nationwide Arena ice, but Jet Greaves, the first goalie to play a full game this preseason, caught the Penguins' shorthanded attempt with the tip of his stick. A few minutes later, Dante Fabro would hit an empty net goal, giving him a 1-1-2 night. This would be his first goal of the preseason and all his own with no assists. In addition, this goal at 16:56 was also short-handed. The Penguins would get a fifth chance at the power play, but the Blue Jackets would deny them for the fifth time, wrapping up the win with a 4-1 final! 

Jet Greaves would play the full 60 minutes and skate away with a stellar performance. He'd finish with a .960 Save Percentage thanks to his 24 saves on the Penguins' 25 shots on his home net. This would earn him the Third Star of the Game.

The Second Star of the Game would go to the game-winning goal shooter, on the power play, Jake Christiansen. 

Finally, the First Star of the Game would go to Yegor Chinakov, who had the first goal of the game, and later added an assist for a 1-1-2 night. 

The Blue Jackets will finally have a day off after four straight preseason games. Yes, we were the only NHL Team to face such a preseason challenge. Our next game will be historic. I know that sounds odd as it's still preseason, but Saturday night a 7:00 p.m. will showcase a moment many, including myself, never thought would happen. A few weeks ago, legendary goalie Marc Andre-Fleury signed a Paid Try Out (PTO) contract with his first team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, so he can play one last game in the jersey before officially retiring from the NHL. I cannot wait for this game. The fact that it's against the Columbus Blue Jackets, a long and hard-fought rivalry between the two teams, makes this sure to be the most exciting preseason game I've ever covered in five years, hands down. Again, that game will start at 7:00 p.m. and will be in Pittsburgh. 

Go CBJ!