The Pittsburgh Penguins have won only two of their last seven games (2-2-3) going into their visit to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.
But the return of a key starter helped the Penguins pull off a 4-2 home win over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday.
Goaltender Tristan Jarry made 29 saves in his return after missing seven games with a lower-body injury. He had last played Nov. 3.
“That’s what I want. I want to come back seamlessly,” Jarry said after the game. “The training staff, (goaltending coach Andy Chiodo), the coaches, they all did a great job. When you’re able to integrate back with the team like that, I think it helps a lot. … You want to stay sharp. All the injured guys and the extras, we did a good job.”
Pittsburgh got goals from Connor Dewar, Kevin Hayes, Bryan Rust and defenseman Matt Dumba. Defenseman Ryan Shea had two assists.
Rust’s goal 7:51 into the third period broke a 1-1 tie and put the Penguins ahead for good. It came 31 seconds after the Sabres tied the game.
“On our heels a little bit. Obviously, they were able to tie that game up,” Rust said. “I think anytime you can have those momentum shifts, whether it’s after goals, first (or) last minute of periods, I think those are big shifts. It was obviously nice to see that one go in.”
Pittsburgh’s Tristan Broz made his NHL debut and Ville Koivunen returned from a lower-body injury. Koivunen played 11:33 after missing three games.
The Blue Jackets have lost their last three (0-1-2) after falling 2-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime Wednesday in Columbus.
Columbus blew third-period leads in two of the losses.
“Obviously we don’t want to lose a lead like that again and then lose in overtime,” said defenseman Zach Werenski, who scored the Blue Jackets’ only goal. “I’m sure everyone’s probably sick of it and sick of hearing it.
“But at the end of the day, we played really good hockey (Wednesday). I mean, we can’t feel sorry for ourselves or be down about it. … Obviously, we don’t want that to happen and we’ve addressed it and talked about it. But in saying that, we’re leading in almost every game and late in games.”
Werenski had a goal overturned in the second period after an offside challenge.
Veteran defenseman Brendan Smith made his debut with Columbus after signing a one-year, two-way contract. He had two shots and a hit in 10:55.
Smith, 36, previously played with the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars over a 15-season career. He has sometimes served as a checking-line forward.
“His bite, his leadership, his aggressiveness as a defenseman, his ability to play a heavier, physical game down low in the D-zone,” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said of Smith’s attributes. “With (defenseman Erik Gudbranson) out, it gives us a little more bite on the back end.”
