COLUMBUS, Ohio – If your team scores first and takes a two-goal lead in the NHL Stanley Cup playoff series between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins, be afraid. Be very afraid.
In the first three games of the series, the team that has scored first and taken a 3-1 lead has seen that lead vanish and has skated off ice the ice losers.
It happened to the Blue Jackets again last night when Brandon Sutter, Lee Stempniak and Jussi Jokinen scored in a span of 2:13 of the third period to erase a 3-1 lead and give the Penguins a 4-3 victory in Game 3 at Nationwide Arena (7:00 p.m./FOX Sports Ohio).
Pittsburgh took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven playoff series thanks to the goals on three consecutive shots.
The win game just days after the CBJ’s first post-season win, when they – you guessed it – rallied from a 3-1 disadvantage to win in double overtime.
Brooks Orpik added a goal in the final seconds of the second period as the Penguins stormed back from deficits of 2-0 and 3-1. Marc Andre-Fleury had 27 saves.
Boone Jenner and Jack Johnson staked the Blue Jackets to an early lead in the opening 3:18, with Cam Atkinson getting credit for a goal early in the final period that stretched the lead to 3-1.