Rust cut the deficit to 2-1 at 14:30. He made a strong move to the net around Severson before tucking the puck around Talbot’s left pad.
“It was hard to turn the game around, to get momentum,” Murashov said. “But thanks to Rusty, he scored a really important goal and we were able to come back to the game and get one point.
“I really appreciate all the efforts from the guys because we basically earned the point just because of their attitude, their hard work.”
Malkin tied it 2-2 at 3:19 of the third period. Erik Karlsson‘s slap shot deflected off the stick of Olivier and hit off Malkin as it fluttered through traffic before going into the net.
“We got a big goal from Rusty there, and then ‘Gino,’” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. “So, we started to find our game there later as it went.”
Crosby was not used in the shootout. Instead, Muse opted for Rickard Rakell, Egor Chinakhov and Ben Kindel.
“Sid’s definitely in the mix,” Muse said. “It’s just, there’s a number of guys and you’re making that decision based on right now. But he’s definitely going to be a guy, too, who we look to in the future.”
NOTES: Talbot (39 years, 96 days) became the oldest goaltender in Blue Jackets history to record a win with the franchise. The previous mark was held by Fredrik Norrena (34 years, 336 days on Oct. 30, 2008). … Rust has scored in consecutive games after missing the first three with an upper-body injury. … This was the fifth straight game between the teams that was decided past regulation. Last season, the Blue Jackets won two shootouts (Oct. 25, 2025, and Jan. 17, 2026), and the Penguins won twice in overtime (Nov. 28, 2025, and Jan. 4, 2026).