COLUMBUS, Ohio — It felt like Tristan Jarry never left.

The embattled Penguins goaltender saw his first NHL action since Oct. 16 on Friday, and what transpired during a 6-2 victory for the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena looked scarily similar to what we've seen out of Jarry this season.

His teammates, too.

There were odd-man breaks, a failure to defend the front of the net and an unmarked shooter, familiar problems that have plagued the Penguins this season. Jarry, meanwhile, did nothing to ease the concern over his struggles this season, allowing a couple questionable goals.

After the Penguins erased a two-goal deficit, Columbus grabbed the lead for good with a goal off the rush late in the second.

Left wing Dmitri Voronkov doubled the advantage at 1:56 of the third period. Pittsburgh afforded Voronkov all kinds of time, and he shoved a shot five-hole on Jarry after knocking it out of the air.

The Blue Jackets’ third goal was probably the ugliest of the night for the Penguins. Pittsburgh mismanaged the puck in the offensive zone, which produced a three-on-one the other way. Marcus Pettersson was the lone defenseman back and largely helpless.

With nobody near him, Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier unleashed a shot from the right circle that beat Jarry glove side for a 3-2 Columbus lead at 16:26 of the period.

Coach Mike Sullivan has talked a ton about managing the puck the right way and picking the proper time to pinch. Neither directive was heeded here.

On Columbus’ fifth goal, the Penguins failed to mark defenseman Damon Severson, who blasted a shot past Jarry from the inner edge of the right circle.

Despite generating little on the power play against Columbus, Michael Bunting did score to create a 2-2 tie at 12:06 of the second, turning and whipping a shot past Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins for his first man-advantage goal of the season.

Unfortunately for the Penguins, they couldn't sustain the momentum. About a minute later, Jack St. Ivany was called for holding the stick, and the Blue Jackets rolled that into a 3-2 lead.

Jarry's rust was evident early, as forward Zach Aston-Reese and defenseman Zach Werenski staked Columbus to a 2-0 lead by 8:39 of the first on tallies the Penguins netminder will likely want back.

Aston-Reese, a former Penguin now on his fifth NHL club, tipped a shot Blue Jackets defenseman Jake Christiansen fired from distance. Six minutes and change later, Werenski blasted a point shot past Jarry.

Starts remain an issue for Jarry, who allowed goals on two of Columbus’ first four shots, including the first one. In three of his four starts this season, Jarry has allowed a first-shot goal.

Pittsburgh’s answer wasn’t pretty, but it counted just the same. Anthony Beauvillier’s original shot from low in the zone was deflected. The puck took a fortuitous bounce past Merzlikins at 11:51 of the first.

The Penguins have now dropped five of their past six games since winning back-to-back contests against Anaheim and Montreal.

Ice chips

— Kris Letang missed Friday's game with an illness. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan also said Blake Lizotte had been diagnosed with a concussion. Owen Pickering, recalled Friday morning, was a healthy scratch along with Vasily Ponomarev.

— Werenski’s goal was the fourth the Penguins allowed in a seven-kill stretch. Though it hasn’t received the same attention as the power play, the penalty kill must also improve.

— With his assist on Beauvillier’s goal, Sidney Crosby tied Joe Sakic (1,016) for No. 13 on the NHL’s all-time assists list. Next up: Mario Lemieux at 1,033.

— Of all the negativity that has surrounded the Penguins this season, Beauvillier has actually been solid. He’s scored in three straight and shares the team lead in goals (six) with Crosby and Rickard Rakell. Beauvillier is on pace for a career-high 26 goals.

— Drew O'Connor was sporting a shaved head Friday morning, something he likely did because he had gone 12 games without a point. The fresh shave worked, as O'Connor's unwanted streak ended with his secondary helper on Bunting's goal.

— Friday's loss snapped a stretch of 13 consecutive games against Columbus with at least one point earned for the Penguins. The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, snapped a six-game losing streak overall.

Stat n’at

131— streak of combined consecutive games played by Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Letang, which ended Friday. It was the longest of their careers. The previous was just 51 games (in 2018).

Coming up

The Penguins return home Saturday to host San Jose Sharks for Grateful Dead night at PPG Paints Arena, a celebration of America’s greatest rock ’n’ roll band.

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