Penguins fall to Blue Jackets in second half of split-squad games

In the second half of a set of split-squad games Sunday evening, the Pittsburgh Penguins lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-1, at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

Earlier in the day, the Penguins claimed a 3-2 overtime win against the Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena.

The Blue Jackets opened the scoring of the second game 7 minutes, 15 seconds into regulation. From the left point of the offensive zone, Blue Jackets defenseman Jake Christiansen chucked a wrister towards the cage, positioned to the right of the crease, Blue Jackets forward Justin Danforth deflected the puck past goaltender Dustin Tokarski’s glove on the far side for his first goal of the preseason. Christiansen and forward Jakub Voracek had assists.

It became a 2-0 score at 8:02 of the second period. Settling the puck at the right point of the offensive zone, Blue Jackets defenseman Andrew Peeke moved up the wall and fed a cross-ice pass to forward Patrik Laine, low in the left circle. Leaning down, Laine swatted a one-timer past Tokarski’s left skate for his first goal. Assists went to Peeke and forward Johnny Gaudreau.

Voracek, a long-time nemesis for the Penguins, put the Blue Jackets up by a field goal only 1:04 later with a power-play goal. Positioned in the right circle of the Penguins’ zone, Gaudreau dished a pass to the end boards for Voracek who then one-touched a forehand pass to the interior of the right circle where Danforth chopped a one-timer. Tokarski made the initial save but allowed a rebound that Voracek cleaned up with a forehand shot for his first goal. Danforth and Gaudreau claimed assists.

The rout was on at 12:32 of the second. After a defensive zone turnover by Penguins forward Nathan Legare, Blue Jackets forward Gustav Nyquist eventually converted that charity into his first goal off assists from Voracek and defenseman Samuel Knazko.

Penguins forward Jordan Frasca broke up the shutout bid at 8:09 of the third period. After Penguins forward Danton Heinen settled a puck in the left circle of the offensive zone, he lost possession, allowing it to slide to the slot. Frasca claimed it, then ripped a wrister past goaltender Jet Greaves’ blocker on the far side for his first goal. Heinen and defenseman Jack St. Ivany netted assists.

The scoring was capped at 16:23 of the final frame when Danforth converted on a power-play opportunity. Off a feed from the right circle of the offensive zone by Gaudreau, Danforth stroked a one-timer from the slot past Tokarski’s glove. Gaudreau and defenseman Adam Boqvist had assists.

Tokarski finished the contest with 25 saves on 30 shots.

Notes: Heinen and forward Josh Archibald served as alternate captains for the Penguins. … The Penguins’ next preseason game is a home contest against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.