Pittsburgh Penguins @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 2026 Preseason Game 3 Recap

After today's news that Adam Fantilli and the Columbus Blue Jackets reached a deal, paying him $ 13.75 million a season for the next 6 years, the only thing that could make today any better would be a Blue Jackets win. Guess what? It wasn't just a win tonight in Nationwide Arena, but a shutout! Now, is it still preseason? Yes, but when you shut out your rival, it's a win, period. 

Zach Werenski would score the first goal of the night, and his preseason,11:48 into period 1! Charlie Elick would add his first preseason assist on the primary, while the secondary would become Dimitri Voronkov's second of the preseason. The period would close with this being the only goal of the game, giving our Blue Jackets a1-0 lead. Shots on goal would be low, with the Blue Jackets leading 5-2. 

Newcomer Valeri Nichushkin would add the second goal of the game, with his first goal of the preseason, at 14:47. Dimitri Voronkov would add his second assist of the night, third of the preseason, with the only assist on Valeri Nichushkin's goal. Then, with seconds left in the period, at 19:45, Denton Heinen would add his first goal of the preseason, giving the Blue Jackets a 3-0 lead! Charlie Coyle would have the only assist on this goal, his first of the preseason. The period would end with that 3-0 Blue Jackets lead, and with shots on goal even at 5 per team. 

In the final minutes of period 3, the Penguins would push to upset the Blue Jackets' shutout, but an empty-net goal by Kirill Marchenko would seal the 4-0 victory for the home team! This was his first goal of the preseason, and it came at 17:28. Cole Sillinger would pick up the primary, and Kent Johnson would pick up the secondary, and these would be the first assists of the season for both players. Shots on goal this period would be even again when this period ended, with 6 each this period. 

Valeri Nichushkin, with a 1-0-1 night, is the Third Star of the Game! 

Cam Talbot played the full game. He went 16/16, with a perfect 1.0 save percentage. The more I see this veteran goalie play, the more impressed I am, and shocked we got him for $950,000 this season. He's the Second Star of the Game. 

Zach Werenski, with a 1-0-1 night, is the First Star of the Game after he scored the first goal of the game!

Our last preseason game will be Saturday night. The puck will drop in Detroit at 7:00 p.m. as we finish with who we started, the Red Wings! It's expected that both teams will play their starters ahead of the 2026-27 NHL Regular Season, starting next week. It's sure to be a thrilling game as players give one last push to prove themselves! 

GOCBJ! 

 

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