Blue Jackets can't rally in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH -- Reilly Smith had a goal and two assists to help the Pittsburgh Penguins end a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday.

Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist, and Ryan Graves had two assists for the Penguins (28-24-8), who were outscored 12-4 in three straight losses. Tristan Jarry made 33 saves.

"Obviously, there's a lot of noise around the team right now, probably more so than there's been in a lot of years,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “Part of our job is to make sure we focus on the task at hand, and that's the game right in front of us. That's our challenge.”

Andrew Peeke and Jack Roslovic each had a goal and an assist, and Jet Greaves made 26 saves for the Blue Jackets (21-31-10), who won 6-3 at home against the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday.

Columbus has lost 14 straight games in Pittsburgh (0-9-5) since a 2-1 win on Nov. 13, 2015.

“We don't really talk about it, to be honest,” Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski said. “It's one of those things where I'm aware of it, but it's one of those things, before the game, no one mentions it. It's just a game we want to go out there and win.”

Jesse Puljujarvi put Pittsburgh ahead 1-0 at 13:33 of the first period when he took a pass from Graves in the left circle, skated through the slot and beat Greaves with a wrist shot for his first goal with the Penguins after signing a two-year contract on Feb. 4.

Malkin made it 2-0 at 18:57 with a slap shot from the right face circle after Smith hit him with a touch pass between his legs at the blue line.  He has two goals in as many games after scoring just two in his previous 24 since Dec. 31.

Smith reached 500 NHL points with the primary assist on Malkin’s goal. He has 502 points (211 goals, 291 assists) in 818 games.

"It means a lot, to be honest,” Smith said. "I would have been happy with one growing up. Time goes by fast and you just try to enjoy every moment. It's pretty special.”

Johnny Gaudreau cut it to 2-1 at 4:31 of the second period with a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle off a cross-ice pass from Roslovic.

Peeke tied it 2-2 just 57 seconds later when his wrist shot from the right point deflected in off Malkin’s stick at 5:28.

“We were in a position to win this game,” Columbus coach Pascal Vincent said. “We played hard. We competed. ... That's why it's frustrating because this one, I really feel like we should've won that game."

Rickard Rakell gave the Penguins a 3-2 lead on a power play at 14:32 when a clearing attempt from Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson behind the net went in off his skate just outside of the crease.

Roslovic scored short-handed, tying it 3-3 with a wrist shot from the right circle on a 2-on-1 rush at 8:04 of the third period.

"I thought we had a slow start in the first, but we battled back in the second, tied the game up,” Gaudreau said. “They found a way to take a 3-2 lead, tied it up again. Kind of just ran out of gas toward the end of the third there. But thought we had a good effort other than the first.”

Jeff Carter put Pittsburgh ahead 4-3 on the same power play at 8:26 with a shot from the goal line that went in off Peeke’s skate in front.

Smith scored for the 5-3 final at 9:53 on a one-timer in the slot off a backhand pass from Malkin, who won the puck from Werenski in the offensive zone.

“It’s just about playing for each other and playing hard every night,” Jarry said. “That’s all we can do at this point is play hard every night and give it our best.”

NOTES: Pittsburgh forward Drew O’Connor did not play the third period because of a concussion. ... Penguins forwards Noel Acciari and Jansen Harkins each did not play because of an upper-body injury. Acciari continues to be evaluated; Harkins was a game-time decision.