Community Picks: Pittsburgh Penguins 0% vs Columbus Blue Jackets 0%

The Pittsburgh Penguins have a commanding 3-0 series lead on the Columbus Blue Jackets heading into Game 4 of their best-of-seven first-round playoff set on Tuesday night. The Pittsburgh Penguins are 7-2 over their last nine games, including a 3-0 start to this first-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Penguins will try to close the series out on Tuesday night in Columbus. Continue to Article

April 18, 2017 10:00:am EST

The Columbus Blue Jackets scored more goals in the first six minutes of Sunday's game than in their first two playoff games combined. Now the Blue Jackets, whose best season in franchise history included a 16-game winning streak, will try to get a win at home on Tuesday night to avoid being swept out of the first-round series by the defending Stanley Cup champions. An overtime goal by 22-year-old rookie Jake Guentzel — set up by some deft puck-handling behind the net by Sidney Crosby — was the latest dagger. Continue to Article

April 17, 2017 4:16:pm EST

A piece of vulcanized rubber has cost Zach Werenski his season. Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella told reporters Monday that Werenski will miss the remainder of the Stanley Cup playoffs after suffering a facial fracture Sunday in Game 3 of the team’s first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Werenski, who’s had an excellent rookie season for the Blue Jackets, suffered the injury in the second period of Columbus’ 5-4 loss when he was struck with a shot from Penguins forward Phil Kessel. The 19-year-old defenseman actually returned for the third period with a full face shield, but his right eye swelled up so much that he couldn’t play in overtime. Tortorella suggested Sunday Continue to Article

April 17, 2017 3:30:pm EST

April 17 (UPI) -- A facial fracture ended Zach Werenski's season Sunday in the first round of the NHL playoffs. But his attitude is the stuff of NHL legends. The Columbus Blue Jackets rookie took to social media Sunday night to post a simple message with a picture of his bruised and scarred face: "Playoff hockey..." Coach John Tortorella told reporters Monday that Werenski is done for the season. He was hurt in the second period when Pittsburgh Penguins' Phil Kessel shot the puck. It went up Werenski's stick and hit him in the face. Blood smeared on the ice as he skated to the bench. The defenseman returned to the game briefly for the third period but sat out in overtime. "I'm just proud of the Continue to Article

April 17, 2017 3:02:pm EST

Remember earlier this season when Woodbury native Jake Guentzel hijacked Twitter for a night? He scored his first career goal with his first career shot on the first career shift with the Pittsburgh Penguins and finished the night with a pair of goals. Well, that was child’s play compared to what the 22-year-old Guentzel did Sunday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Guentzel netted a hat trick, including the overtime winner at 13:10 in a 5-4 victory, as the Penguins took a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Blue Jackets in the East Conference quarterfinals. He currently leads the league with four postseason goals — one more than the Wild have managed in three games against the St. Louis Continue to Article

April 17, 2017 2:37:pm EST