Blue Jackets 4, Penguins 3 (2 OTs)

Some news and notes, facts and quotes from the Penguins’ 4-3 double-overtime loss to Columbus in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series Saturday night at Consol Energy Center:

*** The Blue Jackets’ victory was the first playoff win in franchise history, and they did it in style. The Penguins built a 3-1 lead on the strength of a sensational first period, but the game turned when Matt Calvert of the Blue Jackets scored a shorthanded goal at 7:31 of the second. “We just kept working after that,” Calvert said.

*** The Penguins absolutely dominated the opening period, as evidenced by their 15-4 edge in shots. “We didn’t give them anything,” defenseman Matt Niskanen said. “They didn’t have a sniff in the hockey game for the majority of that first period.”

*** Calvert ended the game at 1:10 of the second overtime when he collected a rebound and, after goalie Marc-Andre Fleury rejected his first shot, stuck the rebound into the top of the net. “I thought that [first shot] going in,” Calvert said. “Luckily enough, it came back to me and I was able to put it upstairs.”

*** Brian Gibbons scored the Penguins’ first two goals – the first two of his playoff career – but left the game with an unspecified injury after logging just 2:26 of ice time. Coach Dan Bylsma said he did not have an update on Gibbons’ injury, which apparently was caused by a collision with Columbus center Ryan Johansen, or status after the game. Gibbons is the first Penguins rookie since Martin Straka on May 12, 1993 to get two goals in a playoff game.

*** Both teams scored a shorthanded goal, but Columbus was 2-for-6 on the power play, while the Penguins capitalized on just one of eight chances. “Clearly, special teams is the difference in the game,” Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said.

*** The Penguins’ all-time overtime record is 24-20, 13-13 at home.

*** Winger Lee Stempniak, on the Penguins’ losing a game that started so well for them: “It’s a shame to waste an effort like that.”

*** The Penguins’ past three overtime games have gone two or more extra periods.

*** Center Joe Vitale was credited with eight hits, the most by a Penguins player in a postseason game since Matt Cooke had nine April 22, 2010 against Ottawa.

*** Sidney Crosby’s two assists raised his career playoff points total to 108, good for third place in franchise history. He trails only Mario Lemieux (172) and Jaromir Jagr (147). His 68 career assists tie him with Ron Francis for third place on the franchise’s all-time postseason ist.

*** Defenseman Paul Martin earned two assists to record multiple points in consecutive playoff games for the first time in his career.

*** Niskanen, who scored the Penguins’ only man-advantage goal, on the team failing to get more power-play goals. “We had enough opportunities. They took quite a few penalties, for a playoff game. You’d like to capitalize on one of them, at least.”