Penguins Moments That Mattered: Pens vs. Blue Jackets 2.0

The Penguins defeated the Blue Jackets for the second time in as many nights.

Moment # 1 - Late in the first period, with the Penguins on a power play, the Blue Jackets found themselves on an odd-man rush, shorthanded. They have already scored two goals while shorthanded this season, and Kris Letang defended the rush brilliantly. When Artem Anisimov entered the zone, Letang covered the shot angle very well. This forced Anisimov to make the pass. Letang knocked it out of mid-air, sending the Pens back down the ice into the offensive zone.

Had he missed the puck, or not been able to make the play, Columbus would have had an easy chance at a 1-on-1 against Jeff Zatkoff.

Moment #2 - Many would argue that goals scored by a team's 4th line are always moments that matter in a game. Deryk Engelland put himself in place to score a 'goal scorers goal' and buried a shot to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead in the 2nd period. It was his 2nd goal of the season. Any goals for Engelland come across as somewhat unexpected, given that he is playing as a 4th line forward. He has found himself fitting in that role, given the Penguins logjam of players on defense, and the injury situation amongst the forwards.

I'm fairly certain that may be the best goal Deryk Engelland will ever score in his career.

Moment #3 - Blake Comeau scored an own goal (credited to Chris Kunitz for putting the shot on net) to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead, early in the 3rd period.

Moment #4 - a non-GIF moment, but just a note that Jeff Zatkoff (fairly quietly), played a great game tonight. Hopefully, getting his first NHL win/shutout under his belt will help him carry some confidence moving forward.

Moment #5 - Olli Maatta made a play mid-way through the 1st period that was not a moment that mattered in the full aspect of the game. It is still worth noting, considering that he is a 19-year old rookie. When going back to retrieve a puck, many young defensemen might telegraph the play that they are about to make. Here, Maatta does the exact opposite. He does not let his body language show which direction he plans on playing the puck.

Subtle things like this show the skill set and pedigree which Maatta plays with and show that he is ready for the NHL.