Crosby Scores 25th Goal, Penguins Beat Blue Jackets

March 22, 2025 3:29 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sidney Crosby scored his 25th goal and added an assist and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3. Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust both had a goal and an assist, and Evgeni Malkin, Noel Acciari and Bokondji Imama also scored for the Penguins, who are 22-3-4 in their last 28 games against Columbus. Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 44 shots in his first start since March 7. Boone Jenner scored his first since returning from shoulder surgery, while Kent Johnson and Justin Danforth also scored for Columbus, which couldn’t rally from a 5-2 deficit. Elvis Merzlikins, who started Thursday’s 1-0 overtime loss against Florida, made 28 saves on Friday.