Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre-Fleury (29) stops a shot by Columbus Blue Jackets Matt Calvert (11) during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL first-round hockey playoff series in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 20, 2017.
Has John Tortorella, the Columbus Blue Jackets head coach and man with a legendary temper, mellowed out a little bit?
Columbus isn't the only team in trouble. The Blue Jackets posted a franchise-record 108 points, but they're still searching for the first playoff series victory in team history after failing to keep the NHL's highest-scoring team in check.
A pivotal Game 5 is Thursday in Edmonton, and the series is guaranteed to return to the South Bay for Game 6 on Saturday.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are still alive in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs after avoiding a four-game sweep by Pittsburgh.
Patric Hornqvist, Ron Hainsey and Tom Kuhnhackl also scored for Pittsburgh.
On the positive side, Berardi notes that the Jackets have beat the Pens three times already this season and that Pittsburgh has a few key defensive players missing from the lineup due to injury. "There's pressure, but we know what we're facing". Columbus D Zach Werenski was named one of three finalists for the Calder Trophy, which goes to the NHL's top rookie. He suffered a fractured cheekbone.
Early in the third period, the Jackets believed they completed the comeback as Oliver Bjorkstrand backhanded a loose puck into the back of the net. Can they keep that energy and grittiness up on the road in Pittsburgh in Game 5? "The series is a battle". "The quicker we can get out of our end and get on the forecheck, the better". They never had a 3-0 lead either.
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"They've got a lot of confidence right now", Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith said. To repeat as champs your process has to be good enough to sustain a larger sample of games.
Hopefully we can see everyone back in Nationwide Arena on Sunday.
The Oilers have found a new playoff hero in their first postseason trip since 2006.
"His play speaks for itself", coach Todd McLellan said.
Sidney Crosby would score a minute later, turning what could have been a tie game into a two-goal lead for the Penguins. "He's been tremendous for us".
Foligno had two points, both assists, in the first four games of the series.
The Sharks are just looking for any kind of goal after being shut out by Cam Talbot for a second straight game. The Penguins now hold a 3-1 lead in the series. Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture each scored twice as San Jose blew out the Oilers, 7-0.
While the six additional Eastern teams now attempting to advance to the second round will say all the right things in the days that lead up to the culmination of round one, the truth is each club, no matter how slight, is keeping an eye on the goings on around the league.
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