COLUMBUS – The Blue Jackets are still alive in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs after avoiding a four-game sweep by Pittsburgh.
Markus Nutivaara, William Karlsson and Boone Jenner each had a goal and an assist and the Blue Jackets held on to beat the Penguins 5-4 on Tuesday, avoiding a sweep in the best-of-seven playoff series.
The Penguins now lead 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, which returns to Pittsburgh for Game 5 on Thursday night (7:00p.m./FOX Sports Ohio).
Jack Johnson and Josh Anderson also scored for the Blue Jackets, who were able to outlast the Penguins when they pushed back hard in the second and third periods and then got a short-handed goal from Jake Guenztel with 27 seconds left in the game.
Sergei Bobrovsky had 27 saves to help the Blue Jackets get their first playoff win in three years and their first-ever in regulation.
Patric Hornqvist, Ron Hainsey and Tom Kuhnhackl also scored for Pittsburgh, and Marc-Andre Fleury had 29 saves.