In series marked by blown leads, Penguins and Blue Jackets try to simplify things in Game 4
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Columbus Blue Jackets' Nikita Nikitin, left to right, of Russia, Boone Jenner, Ryan Johansen and Dalton Prout celebrate their goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period of a first-round NHL playoff hockey game Monday, April 21, 2014, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) (The Associated Press)
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets will not try to fall behind 3-1 on the scoreboard in Wednesday night's Game 4.
In each game of their Stanley Cup first-round series, a team has led by that score — and then lost.
The Penguins did it in Game 2, the Blue Jackets in Games 1 and 3, including a 4-3 home loss on Monday night.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Blue Jackets have shown they can play with the powerful Penguins. But they have yet to prove they can close the deal.
The Penguins are up 2-1 in the series even though their biggest stars — Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, James Neal and Chris Kunitz — haven't scored a goal.