Bennett, Fleury, Orpik/Bortuzzo among key performers in 2-1 win over CBJ

The Penguins snapped a three game losing streak Friday night with a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The win improved the Penguins to 5-0 against the Blue Jackets this season.

Chris Kunitz (34) and Beau Bennett (2) scored third period goals and Marc Andre Fleury was very strong in goal, making 35 saves on 36 shots for his first win since March 11th.

Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma again  talked afterwards how it was important for the Penguins to have played a playoff type game. “That was a playoff type game and to a man, we stepped up and played that game,” Bylsma said.

The Penguins were plagued with some undisciplined play, taking three first period penalties but killed off all three penalties and were 4-for-4 on the PK. Pittsburgh is 14-for-14 on the penalty kill vs Columbus this season. Keep that in mind if these two teams meet in the first period

1. Beau Bennett – Bennett returned to the lineup after missing 51 games and made an immediate impact. He was the best player on the ice and netted the game winning goal, finishing a 2-on-1 break with Jussi Jokinen. | VS CBJ | 1 Goal, +1, 3 SOG, 4 Hits, 14:51 TOI

2. Marc Andre Fleury – Fleury shut the door in the first period with 13 saves as the Penguins were outplayed in period one. That’s what you need when you’re playing back to back games. He made 35 saves for his 35th win of the season. “I thought he was outstanding all game long,” head coach Dan Bylsma said.

3. Brooks Orpik/Robert Bortuzzo – In a game that coaches, players talked afterwards of having a playoff feel,  Brooks Orpik – Robert Bortuzzo were the tone setters. Orpik played an excellent game, logging a team-high 25:48, including 4:31 on the penalty kill. Orpik had a team-high 5 hits. Bortuzzo played with an edge from the start, dropping the gloves with Nick Foligno, 8:43 in and made a great poke check on Jack Johnson in the defensive zone, leading to Beau Bennett’s game winning goal.