COLUMBUS (Interstat) — Kent Johnson scored the only goal in a shootout, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Friday at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets improved to 2-1-0, while the Penguins fell to 2-3-0. An announced attendance of 17,057 watched a tight Metropolitan Division matchup that needed extra time and a tiebreaker to decide. Columbus goalie Cam Talbot made 20 saves on 22 shots and then stopped the final Pittsburgh attempt in the shootout. Pittsburgh goalie Sergei Murashov kept the Penguins within reach throughout regulation and overtime, turning aside repeated chances from a Columbus offense that generated pressure from the opening faceoff. The Blue Jackets won for the second time in three games, while Pittsburgh lost for the third time in five starts.

Damon Severson opened the scoring for Columbus in the first period. His wrist shot at 10:52 gave the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead, with assists from Zach Werenski and Cole Sillinger. The sequence followed early Columbus pressure, including a Charlie Coyle faceoff win against Sidney Crosby and a Mathieu Olivier hit on Crosby. Coyle put an early wrist shot on net that Murashov saved, and Olivier stayed physical throughout the opening period. Pittsburgh’s best early chances came later in the first, including Egor Chinakhov’s backhand that hit the right post and a wrist shot from Kaedan Korczak that Talbot stopped. Columbus defenseman Denton Mateychuk had a slap shot and a wrist shot turned away by Murashov, while Adam Fantilli and Coyle continued to test the Pittsburgh defense. The Blue Jackets took a one-goal lead into the first intermission despite Pittsburgh’s push late in the period.

Columbus extended its lead in the second period when Mathieu Olivier scored on a wrist shot. Damon Severson and Cole Sillinger assisted on the play, giving Severson a goal and an assist and Sillinger a second helper. The Blue Jackets had several chances to add to the lead, including a flurry from Charlie Coyle, whose tip-in and backhand were saved by Murashov. Pittsburgh answered late in the second period when Bryan Rust scored on a wrist shot. Samuel Girard assisted on the goal, which cut the Columbus lead to 2-1. Rust’s goal came after Cole Sillinger turned the puck over, and it shifted momentum back toward the Penguins. Evgeni Malkin had a wrist shot saved by Talbot soon after, and the Penguins entered the second intermission with renewed energy. Columbus still held the advantage, but Pittsburgh had found a way to stay close.

Pittsburgh tied the game in the third period when Evgeni Malkin scored on a deflected shot. Erik Karlsson assisted on the goal, which made it 2-2 and set up a tense finish. The Penguins pressured Talbot repeatedly over the final 20 minutes, with Sidney Crosby recording a tip-in attempt and a wrist shot, Kris Letang firing from the point and Ben Kindel putting multiple shots toward the net. Talbot remained steady, stopping Kindel on a backhand and denying Declan Carlile on a wrist shot. At the other end, Murashov denied Denton Mateychuk, Dmitri Voronkov and Sean Monahan. Columbus nearly regained the lead late in regulation when Zach Werenski’s wrist shot went wide right and Mathieu Olivier’s tip-in was saved by Murashov. Pittsburgh also had a late chance when Erik Karlsson’s wrist shot hit the left post. Neither team could score again in regulation, sending the game to overtime.

Overtime produced chances but no goals. Adam Fantilli won the opening faceoff for Columbus, and the Blue Jackets generated pressure early. Bryan Rust had a wrist shot saved by Talbot, while Zach Werenski put two backhands on net that Murashov stopped. Pittsburgh countered with Sidney Crosby, who had a wrist shot and a backhand saved by Talbot, and Blake Lizotte, whose wrist shot was also turned aside. The Penguins had a late push, but Talbot denied Rickard Rakell and Ben Kindel in the extra period. When overtime ended without a goal, the game moved to a shootout. Kent Johnson scored the only goal of the tiebreaker, beating Murashov to give Columbus the extra point. Talbot then stopped Pittsburgh’s final attempt, sealing the win. The shootout finish capped a game in which both goalies traded important saves.

Talbot’s 20-save performance anchored Columbus. He earned the win and was especially strong in the third period and overtime. Severson finished with a goal and an assist, three shots on goal and one hit. Malkin scored on one of his three shots for Pittsburgh. Coyle led all skaters with seven shots on goal, repeatedly testing Murashov. Olivier scored and put four shots on net. Fantilli recorded three shots and two penalty minutes. Sillinger contributed two assists and two shots. Werenski added an assist, three shots and three hits. Karlsson had one assist for Pittsburgh. Rust scored on one of his two shots, added two penalty minutes and recorded a hit. The Blue Jackets also received steady minutes from Mateychuk, who helped limit Pittsburgh’s chances in the defensive zone. Columbus also received a strong defensive effort from its blue line, which blocked several Pittsburgh shots and limited second-chance opportunities. Pittsburgh’s Murashov made several difficult stops to keep the game tied deep into the third period and overtime.

Columbus had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Pittsburgh 3, Columbus 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Columbus with a 52.3 percent probability to win. The total score of 5 went over the over/under line of 6.5. The Blue Jackets next host St. Louis, while Pittsburgh returns home to face Dallas. Both teams will look to build on the early-season form shown in a game that featured 60 minutes of regulation, overtime and a shootout. Columbus found the decisive moment through Johnson, while Pittsburgh came away with a point despite the loss. The Blue Jackets’ win moved them above .500, and the Penguins remained one game under .500 after a back-and-forth contest at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets and Penguins will continue their schedules after a game that required every available minute and a shootout to settle.