Pittsburgh needs a cleaner start
The Penguins are 2-2-0 after a 5-3 loss to Washington on Wednesday, a game they trailed by three goals before rallying and falling short. Bryan Rust scored in his season debut after missing the first three games with an upper-body injury suffered in the preseason finale on Sept. 26. Rust has scored at least 20 goals in each of his previous seven seasons, so his return matters. Tommy Novak and Nick Robertson also scored.
Sidney Crosby finished minus-4. Coach Dan Muse said he disliked the quality of chances Washington generated and wants his team to control the momentum. Rust was blunter, saying the group was slow and gave up too much in the first half before pushing harder in the second, which he called too little, too late.
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Columbus has sat since last Saturday
The Blue Jackets (1-1-0) have not played since a 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth last weekend. They have allowed the first goal in back-to-back games and trailed 2-0 in that one before Kent Johnson scored on a breakaway early in the second period. Matthew Knies assisted on that goal. He had two goals and an assist in Columbus’s 6-3 win over Buffalo on Oct. 1.
Alternate captain Zach Werenski admitted the team has not played its best yet, though he pointed out that the season is long and the room believes it can improve.
A goalie milestone is in play
The most unusual storyline sits in the crease. Jet Greaves started both Columbus games, but Cam Talbot is expected to make his Blue Jackets debut either Friday against Pittsburgh or Saturday at St. Louis. At 39, he would become one of only two goalies in NHL history to play for nine franchises, tying Sean Burke.
Talbot said he hopes to settle in Columbus and noted that his wife would not want to move again. For a goalie who has bounced around the league, that is a fair ask.
The Blue Jackets get rested legs against a Penguins side that has leaked chances early. Whoever starts in net, the first 20 minutes may decide the night.
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