Penguins vs. Blue Jackets Recap: Columbus Wins in a Shootout

The Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in a shootout on Friday night, after 65 minutes ended tied 2-2. Columbus built a 2-0 lead on goals from Damon Severson at 10:52 of the 1st and Mathieu Olivier at 11:40 of the 2nd. Pittsburgh answered with Bryan Rust at 14:30 of the 2nd and Evgeni Malkin at 3:19 of the 3rd, and a scoreless overtime sent it to the shootout, where Columbus won it. The final includes the one goal ESPN credits to the shootout winner. Columbus outshot Pittsburgh 45-22, and Sergei Murashov made 43 saves on 45 shots to get the Penguins that far. Neither power play scored. Four DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

Sidney Crosby 2+ shots on goal (-205 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Crosby came in with 2+ shots in all 4 games this season, 12 in total, and in 9 of his last 10 games overall. - What happened: He put 3 shots on goal in 19:40, including 2:27 on the power play, clearing the 1.5 line by 1.5. - Worth watching: This is about as steady a shot profile as the board sees. Pittsburgh only had 22 shots as a team and Crosby still got there, so the floor looks solid at a fair price.

Evgeni Malkin 1+ points (-135 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Malkin had 4 points in 4 games, 2 of them power-play goals, and recorded a point in 40 of 56 games last season. - What happened: Malkin tied the game 2-2 at 3:19 of the 3rd, deflecting in a shot with Erik Karlsson on the assist. He finished with 1 goal and 3 shots on goal in 17:30. - Worth watching: He is producing at even strength as well as on the power play, which keeps the point line live even on nights the power play goes quiet, as it did here.

Kent Johnson under 0.5 points (-130 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Johnson had a point in only 18 of 76 games last season. He had 2 points in 2 games this year on bigger minutes, and we felt the price already accounted for that. - What happened: Johnson finished regulation and overtime with 0 points and 2 shots on goal in 18:10. Shootout goals do not count toward player points, so the under cashed. A longer shot that landed. - Worth watching: Johnson played 5:54 on the power play, the most of anyone in this group. That kind of power-play usage is the biggest risk to a points under, so check his role before backing this again.

Bryan Rust 1+ points (-105 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Rust returned Wednesday with a point and 3 shots in 19 minutes, and he had a point in 46 of 72 games last season. - What happened: Rust scored Pittsburgh's first goal, a snap shot at 14:30 of the 2nd set up by Samuel Girard. He had 1 goal and 2 shots on goal in 18:21. - Worth watching: Near even money for a winger with that track record is a price we like. Another longer shot that landed.

How the game played out

Columbus had the better of play, winning 66.7 percent of the faceoffs and holding a 45-22 shot edge. Murashov kept Pittsburgh close until Rust and Malkin scored twice in under nine minutes of game time to tie it. Cam Talbot made 20 saves on 22 shots for Columbus.

Trends to watch

• Murashov faced 45 shots. If Columbus keeps generating this kind of volume, opposing goalie saves overs against the Blue Jackets are worth a look.
• Pittsburgh went without a power-play goal on two chances and Columbus came up empty on four. Neither team needed its special teams to get points here.
• Crosby, Malkin and Rust all logged between 17:30 and 19:40, so Pittsburgh is still leaning on that group for big minutes.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. More hockey coverage lives on the NHL hub and in our NHL recaps. For the basics on these markets, see our guide to the player prop.