COLUMBUS, Ohio — It’s Thanksgiving weekend in the U.S., but it feels like Groundhog Day in central Ohio.

Even with the Columbus Blue Jackets holding a two-goal lead heading into the third period on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, there was a “here we go again” angst hanging in the air of Nationwide Arena.

Then it happened again: another blown lead by the Blue Jackets in a season that is quickly being defined and derailed by them.

The Penguins’ Bryan Rust scored only 13 seconds into the third period, Sidney Crosby tied the score at 3 later in the period and Kris Letang ended it only 58 seconds into overtime, sending Pittsburgh to a 4-3 win before a beyond-capacity crowd of 18,194.

It sent the Blue Jackets looking for answers yet again.

“We’re sick of talking about it,” Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski said. “I’m sure you guys (the media) are sick of talking about it, and I’m sure the fans are sick of seeing it.

“So at the end of the day, it’s on us to just find a way to get a win, to close a game out. And that’s in here, it’s in this room, and it just comes down to us doing it now.”

COMEBACK COMPLETE ✅

Kris Letang secures the win for the @penguins in @Energizer OT! pic.twitter.com/0ldmhMKBBj

— NHL (@NHL) November 29, 2025

The Blue Jackets went into the second intermission on a high note. A Letang turnover in the Penguins’ zone started an impressive sequence in which Blue Jackets veteran center Charlie Coyle won a puck battle and fed Werenski for a goal with 3.3 seconds remaining.

That goal gave the Jackets a 3-1 lead.

“We’re in the driver’s seat,” Coyle said. “It shouldn’t be that big of a deal, you know? It’s a whole period left to play hockey, a great opportunity for us in a hockey game. That’s got to be the mindset of it.

“Just about every team I’ve played on goes through stuff like this. Most teams in the league go through stuff like this. It’s something I’ve experienced in my 14 years, and the good teams can correct it. A little bit of adversity is good for us.”

When Rust scored 13 seconds into the third, you could feel the Blue Jackets recoil for at least the next five or six minutes. Crosby’s goal at 8:28 of the period tied the score and brought an audible groan from the crowd.

For many, it probably seemed inevitable.

“We felt a bit of a … not necessarily a sag,” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. “It’s just like, when things haven’t gone well, you start thinking and what have you.

“We didn’t say, ‘OK, let’s sit back.’ Or ‘Let’s be a little more aggressive.’ We just got on the wrong side of people at key times, right? They get two glorious opportunities because, for whatever reason, we were moving forward as opposed to defending, and … you leave a couple of guys wide open like that.”

Since Nov. 2, the Blue Jackets have been outscored 21-8 in the third period, and 25-9 in the third period and overtime. They’ve blown leads and lost in regulation to the New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks. They’ve blown leads and lost in overtime to the Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and now Pittsburgh.

That’s just in November.

How many points has Columbus lost? Eight? Ten? How many points, like Friday, has the team gifted to opponents? The points Friday night went to the Penguins, their Metropolitan Division rivals.

The Blue Jackets, with the loss, settled into last place in the Metropolitan. Yes, they’re only three points behind the third-place Washington Capitals, but they’re allowing a crowd of teams to gather before them in the standings.

Sean Monahan, Brendan Gaunce and Werenski scored for the Blue Jackets, while goaltender Jet Greaves stopped 20 shots. Monahan’s goal marked his first in 10 games, while Gaunce’s, set up by a terrific play off the rush by Miles Wood, was the first short-handed goal of his career.

THE JACKETS WITH A SHORTHANDED PIECE OF MAGIC! 🪄 pic.twitter.com/9q7LfYVO0Q

— NHL (@NHL) November 29, 2025

Evason made another curious lineup choice in overtime.

Rookie forward Luca Pinelli has been one of the Blue Jackets’ most noticeable forwards in his two games since being recalled from AHL Cleveland. He played 18:00 minutes Friday, once again holding a spot on the second line with Kirill Marchenko and Boone Jenner out with injuries.

However, it was surprising to see Pinelli, in just his second NHL game, out with Monahan and Werenski at the start of overtime. Pinelli got stuck on the ice when Monahan went for a change, and the goal was scored seconds later.

“Skill,” Evason said when asked to explain the decision. “(Pinelli’s) got a skill set. He’s got some speed. He got caught out there, obviously, you know, too long, and he’s tired at the end, clearly. There are other things that go into it.

“Rust and Crosby aren’t the biggest guys, so we started with (Monahan) and (Pinelli). We know they’re going to come back with Malkin and somebody … so we’re going to go with (Coyle) and (Cole Sillinger) against them. We tried to match up a little bit, as well.”

The Blue Jackets have to stew in this frustration for two days. They don’t play again until Monday in New Jersey.

“We’re just not getting it done,” Werenski said. “So, yeah, it’s frustrating. I can sit here and keep talking about it, but, like I said, it’s stuff you guys have heard before.”