COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Penguins survived the Columbus Blue Jackets, 3-2, Friday night in a brutally physical game at Nationwide Arena.
It was as rough as it looked, players said afterwards, but also the sweetest of wins.
Carl Hagelin scored the winner 4:47 into the second period and Marc-Andre Fleury picked up his 350th career win with 25 saves.
But the game’s lasting image had to be the violent checks and puck battles that illustrated the story of the teams’ final meeting this season.
The Penguins were outhit, 26-13, and suffered the worst blow when Evgeni Malkin disappeared down the runway in the second period after a hard hit at the end boards.