This weekend, the Penguins played their first preseason game at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets. With it being early in the preseason the big stars like Crosby and Malkin did not play, but we did get to see the young talent that the team has to offer as well as the first preview of the depth pieces on the team. 

First starting with the game then my standouts from preseason game one: 

The Pens started the scoring off in this game, in the first period, with Alex Nylander who had a nice rebound around the net, scoring on rookie goaltender Jet Graves. Also chiming in on that goal, with an assist was Radim Zohorna, who is making a return to Pittsburgh this summer. 

The blue line got involved with the scoring in the first as Pierre-Olivier Joseph had a snipe from the blue line. This is a great sign for the Pens if they can get some more production on the offensive side of the puck from Pierre-Olivier Joseph. It would make for a dangerous third pairing for what is an already stacked defense. 

The Blue Jackets bounced back with two goals of their own in the third period making it an exciting finish in PPG Paints arena. In overtime nobody could find the back of the net resulting in the game ending in a shootout. Fans got to see first round pick Brayden Yager make his debut as he won the game with a wrist shot in the shootout. With the lack of talent in the Pens farm system, Yager is that much more important to become successful and by the looks of it, his game has been developing well since being drafted by the Pens. 

My standouts from game one are a pair of young forwards, Drew O’Connor and Alex Nylander. Since entering the league in the 2020 season O’Connor’s game just keeps improving as his big body and speed is very noticeable on the ice. He had an assist on the Joseph goal and was all around the ice in the game. 

With Jake Guentzel out to open the year, O’Connor could have a chance of playing first line minutes with Crosby and if that’s the case he must seize the moment. Onto Alex Nylander who scored a clutch goal in the shootout to help the pens win their first preseason game. Nylander made his debut last year earning top six time with Malkin’s line, but this year he is fighting for a third line spot on the roster. If his scoring touch can improve, he can make a huge difference in a bottom six that is defensive heavy.