Crosby's Hat Trick Lifts Pens Above Jackets

Key contributors are still quiet for the Jackets, and there is "more needed" from 0-4 power play.

Photo courtesy of Kevin Lam (Cbus Sports)

COLUMBUS, Ohio--- The Columbus Blue Jackets hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday night, losing for the 10th time in the last 11 games.

Nationwide welcomed a crowd of 16,956 fans, a fair amount of whom rooted for the opposition. The red-hot Pens came in winning their last four games in a row, with four players having six points in their last five games.

SID THE NOT-SO-KID

Ugh. The Jackets had no answer for Crosby tonight. The 36-year-old NHL veteran scored his 13th career hat-trick and his second against the Jackets.

Sid started the scoring at 4:10 into the contest from an angle that only he could score from. The Pens captain now has eight goals on the year and a solid 16 points.

With the score tied 3-3, Crosby tipped in the go-ahead goal from nearly the same spot.

After the go-ahead goal, Sid put the nail in the coffin with an empty netter.

MARCHENKO ON A MISSION

Kirill Marchenko is on FIRE. He backhanded home his fourth goal of the year in one of the best individual efforts the Jackets have seen this season.

After starting the season slowly, Marchenko finally looks like he's back.

CHINNY GETS ON THE BOARD

Yegor Chinakhov has had a rough couple of months. After battling back from injury, he was finally able to score his first goal since November 25th of last year.

TEX HEATING UP

Alex Texier had his third of the year off of a Sean Kuraly rebound, beating a lunging Tristan Jarry.

TAKEAWAYS

• The power play sucked tonight, plain and simple. The Jackets have to do a better job of getting pucks on net and making the opposition make a save. "We need (a power play goal) bad right now," said Zach Werenski. "I could sit here and say we have good looks and chances and what not, but at some point, we have to find a way to put the puck in the net."

• The performances of Gaudreau, Laine, and Sillinger continue to be underwhelming on the stat sheet, even though they aren't necessarily playing bad hockey. With that said, with Johnny being paid what he is being paid, there is a certain point expectation for him that he is not hitting.

• The Jackets did a way better job of staying out of the penalty box tonight, a problem that they have struggled with as of late.

• These past 11 games could have gone either way for the Jackets on the scoreboard. They aren't getting blown out like last season.

• Fantilli is blossoming as a leader on this team, despite his age. He will earn more and more respect as he keeps making a name for himself in this league.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Jackets will host Arizona on Thursday night for Hockey Fights Cancer Night at Nationwide Arena. Puck drops at 7 p.m.

Ian Phillips for Yamo Media