3 major takeaways from Pittsburgh Penguins' 3-1 preseason win vs Columbus Blue Jackets

The Pittsburgh Penguins got two third-period goals to get a 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Thursday night.

Cole Sillinger opened the scoring for the Blue Jackets at 7:24 of the first period. Then, Valtteri Puustinen tied the game in the second before Jonathan Gruden and Kevin Hayes put the game away for good in the third.

Tristan Jarry went the distance for the Pittsburgh Penguins, making 33 saves on the night.

Here’s a closer look at three major takeaways from the Penguins’ 3-1 win over the Blue Jackets.

3 major takeaways from Pittsburgh Penguins' preseason win vs Columbus Blue Jackets

#3. Jarry was the star of the game

Penguins starting netminder Tristan Jarry was on his game, making 33 saves. While he wasn’t forced to bail the Pens out, he did make tough saves when he had to. In particular, the Pens had to kill off two penalties, relying on Jarry to help out the penalty kill.

The start is a bright spot for the Pens as they will be counting on Jarry to be the number-one netminder heading into the season as the club looks for stability in this crucial position.

#2. Jesse Puljujarvi had another strong game

Jesse Puljujarvi has had a strong preseason, making a strong case for his roster spot this season. A former first-round pick, he never really got on track with the Edmonton Oilers. However, it seems that he has found a foothold with the Penguins.

Puljujarvi assisted on Hayes’ empty-net goal in the game’s final minute. It seems that Puljujarvi has earned coach Mike Sullivan’s trust. Moving forward, Puljujarvi could have a resurgent season with the Penguins.

#1. The Pens' roster hopefuls had a good night

Overall, Thursday's game was encouraging as most roster hopefuls and prospects suited up. None of the Penguins’ big stars took to the ice, allowing the coaching staff to get a better look at roster hopefuls before making final cuts.

The performance was encouraging as the Pens played a solid defensive game despite being outshot. However, the number of high-danger chances was limited. Also, the Pens stayed out of the box, minimizing the need to kill off penalties.

One of the bright spots on the night was the Pens’ dominance in the faceoff circle. That dominance helped the Penguins seal their third preseason win.

The two clubs will meet once more this preseason on Friday night at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.