Apr 26, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) and left wing Chris Kunitz (right) react to a goal by Kunitz against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period in game five of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Penguins still don’t have a goal from either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, but they moved within a game of eliminating the Columbus Blue Jackets with a 3-1 win in game 5, taking a 3-2 series lead.
Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, in the spotlight for a couple of perceived errors that cost the Penguins game 4, made 23 saves for the win, while at the other end the Penguins peppered Sergei Bobrovsky with 50 shots, as he stopped 48 of them before Kris Letang scored in an empty net on the 51st shot.
Columbus actually got on the board first and held the lead through 20 minutes as Boone Jenner found a loose puck in the goalmouth scramble after Fleury failed to cover it up.
Chris Kunitz tied it up before the 2nd period was 8 minutes old as Chris Kunitz batted a rebound from in close past Bobrovsky and it was even through 40 minutes.
Jussi Jokinen completed an nice three way forecheck by the Penguins 3rd line as Lee Stempniak carried the puck into the zone and put a shot on goal, that was stopped but Brandon Sutter knocked the rebound across the crease to Jokinen who was all alone for the easy backhander.
Letang capped it with 11 seconds left and Bobrovsky on the bench for the extra attacker.
Game 6 will be played Monday in Columbus, as the Blue Jackets will try to continue the trend of no team being able to win 2 straight in this series while the Penguins want to avoid an “anything can happen” game 7.