The Pittsburgh Penguins erased a two-goal third period deficit to get the 4-3 Game 3 win of their opening round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Columbus Blue Jackets Monday night. They take a 2-1 lead.
A loud, boisterous crowd filled Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio to capacity to cheer for the Blue Jackets in their first home playoff game since 2009. The crowd appeared to rattle a veteran Penguins squad early, as the Blue Jackets scored twice in the games opening five minutes and forced Penguins bench boss Dan Bylsma to use his timeout early.
But Pittsburgh settled in from there, out-shooting the Blue Jackets dramatically and ultimately erased the home side's two-goal lead with three quick third period goals on Sergei Bobrovsky.
Star Performer
Sidney Crosby has yet to score a goal in the NHL playoffs, but as hockey fans (hopefully) learned during the Sochi Olympics, Crosby doesn't need to be lighting it up offensively to be the most effective hockey player on planet earth.
In Game 3 Crosby logged 22:20 and pulverized the Blue Jackets whenever he was on the ice. At even-strength with Crosby on the ice the Penguins managed 10 shots on goal, while surrendering just one against.
That's the type of dominant performance that allows a team to win in the postseason.
Turning Point
Brooks Orpik's second period buzzer-beater, scored with just 1.8 seconds left in the second frame, reduced the Blue Jackets lead to just one goal and keyed the Penguins rally.
Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson scored early in the third period to restore the two goal lead, but had Orpik not found twine late in the second, Atkinson's goal would've been a death knell for the Penguins, rather than just a minor inconvenience.
Highlight Reel
Hard to beat Lee Stempniak's game-tying wrist shot:
Stempniak is having a pretty big impact for a deadline pickup who arrived in Pittsburgh with literally zero fanfare.
Quote of the Night
"They put their skates on one foot at a time just like we do. They're nothing special" - Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson, on the Penguins' stable of offensive talent.
Series at a Glance
Game 1 Recap: Penguins 4, Blue Jackets 3
Game 2 Recap: Blue Jackets 4, Penguins 3 (2 OT)
Scroll down for a complete game story from Game 3.
