After Jackets’ goal waved off, Penguins march on to victory

PITTSBURGH — In an instant, Oliver Bjorkstrand went from having his hands over his head in celebration to having his head in his hands in aggravation.

An early third-period goal that would have brought the Blue Jackets back from a three-goal deficit was disallowed because of a goaltender interference call on Alexander Wennberg, a call that devastated Bjorkstrand, infuriated coach John Tortorella on the 4, OT

bench, and ended the team’s hopes for a miracle comeback on two fronts.

The Pittsburgh Penguins pulled away for a 5-2 win before 18,585 at PPG Paints Arena, winning the best-of-seven first-round series in only five games.

“This is not a 4-1 series,” Tortorella said. “I’m not going to piss and moan about it. They win, but I like a lot of things about our club.

“We have to lick our wounds and learn from some of the things that went on in the series. But I can’t wait to get going again with them. I’m proud of them. I’m very proud of this group.”

So ends an astounding season for the Blue Jackets. They far exceeded expectations in the regular season, pulling off a 16-game winning streak and setting new franchise records all over the media guide.

But the regular season raised expectations to the point that a first-round exit — the franchise’s third such exit in three playoff trips — created a hollow feeling in the dressing room.

“It hurts,” center Brandon Dubinsky said. “The season we put in, these playoffs don’t reflect it. These are the times when you have to step up and find a way to get the job done. We weren’t good enough.”

The Jackets, playing without captain Nick Foligno (lower body), could have been left for dead, trailing 3-0 early in the second period.

But William Karlsson’s backhanded goal at 9:30 of the second and Boone Jenner’s power-play rebound put-back at 12:24 pulled the Jackets to 3-2.

The Penguins went the final 10:54 of the second period without a shot on goal.

“We kept fighting, there’s no doubt,” Dubinsky said. “It’s a tough lead to spot the defending champs.”

The ice continued to tilt in the Blue Jackets’ favor early in the third, and they appeared to tie it 3-3 when Bjorkstrand scored into a vacated cage from the slot.

But just as Bjorkstrand started to celebrate, NHL official Eric Furlatt disallowed the goal, saying Wennberg interfered with Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

“I had no intention to hit Fleury,” Wennberg said. “He’s far out (of the crease). I’m trying to skate by and he calls it. It’s game-changing, right there.”

Tortorella was furious on the bench but wouldn’t comment after the game.

“Stop baiting me into

2. Pittsburgh, Rust 4 (Malkin, Kessel), 1:07; 3. Pittsburgh, Rust 5 (Hainsey), 3:50; 4. Columbus, Karlsson 2

it,” he told a reporter. “There’s no sense in me having a viewpoint on it. It happened.”

The Penguins, their 3-2 lead restored, scored on the ensuing power play to make it 4-2. The lead grew to 5-2 less than a minute later when Scott Wilson swatted a rebound into the net.

“Obviously, it changed the game, changed the course of the game,” Dubinsky said. “I didn’t see the call, so I can’t comment on it (being right or wrong). But that changed the game, big-time.”