Penguins Moments That Mattered: A Sequence of Saves and Defensive Glass

First off, a big stick tap to the great people over at Japers' Rink, our fellow SB Nation blog that covers the Caps. They had a great segment title idea, which will feature GIFs and things that impact the game. These can be both good and bad things, depending on how the game goes.

Early in the 1st period of Friday night's game between the Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets, Marc-Andre Fleury was tested by several shots. He came up big, kicking them all out with saves, and giving the Penguins a chance to get the puck out of the zone.

The sequence of saves by Fleury kept the game a scoreless tie. Several minutes later in the game, the Penguins were awarded a power play and Chris Kunitz scored to take a 1-0 lead.

Early in the 2nd period, Tanner Glass made a great play. He engaged and tied up the stick of the Blue Jackets' Jack Johnson. That play sprung Brandon Sutter in the offensive zone, where he beat Sergei Bobrovsky with a wrist shot.

The Penguins took a 4-0 lead in the 2nd period, with goals from Kris Letang and Jayson Megna. The Blue Jackets' Derek MacKenzie scored to make it a 4-1, and a late goal from Ryan Johansen, made it 4-2.

Without Fleury's early sequence of saves, the game could gave taken a much different direction. Glass' play to set up Sutter set the tone for the 2nd period, and ultimately, the game.

The Penguins will take on the Blue Jackets again Saturday, in the back end of a home-and-home, played in Columbus at Nationwide Arena at 7:00 pm.