PITTSBURGH -- In a preview of a likely first-round playoff matchup, the Pittsburgh Penguins took a big step toward earning home-ice advantage with a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena.

Pittsburgh (49-19-11), in second place in the Metropolitan Division, moved three points ahead of the third-place Blue Jackets (49-22-8). Each team has three games remaining.

Pittsburgh improved to 19-13-7 at PPG Paints Arena and has won three games a row overall, while Columbus has lost four straight (0-2-2).

The Penguins, in their final home game of the regular season, got goals from Carter Rowney, Patric Hornqvist and Brian Dumoulin for a 3-0 lead through two periods, then pushed it to 4-0 just 37 seconds into the third when Justin Schultz's shot glanced in off of Jake Guentzel.

Brandon Dubinsky broke up a potential shutout by Penguins goaltender Matt Murray with a short-handed goal to make it 4-1. Murray made 38 saves.

Columbus goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, considered a strong candidate for the Vezina Trophy, fell to 11-6-2 against the Penguins in his career. He stopped 23 shots.

Rowney's second goal of the season gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead at 18:51 of the first. From just above the crease and with defenseman Jack Johnson covering him closely, Rowney tipped in a pass from Scott Wilson, who was near the left wall.

Tom Kuhnhackl blocked a shot in his end, then took off with the puck down the left wing and set up Hornqvist for a one-timer in tight and his 20th goal for a 2-0 Penguins lead at 9:26 of the second.

During four-on-four play, Dumoulin scored his first goal since Dec. 15, 2014 -- a stretch of 150 games -- on a wraparound to make it 3-0 at 12:30 of the second.

NOTES: Penguins RW Bryan Rust left in the second period and C Matt Cullen in the third. There was no immediate word on their status. ... Pittsburgh D Trevor Daley (knee injury) and LW Tom Sestito (upper-body injury) joined the morning skate wearing non-contact jerseys. ... C Evgeni Malkin (shoulder injury) and D Olli Maatta (hand injury) skated separately from the club's game-day skate. ... Penguins D Kris Letang (upper-body injury), LW Carl Hagelin (lower-body injury) and LW Chris Kunitz (lower body) did not skate. ... Columbus RW Oliver Bjorkstrand returned after missing six games because of what is believed to be a concussion. ... D Zach Werenski (upper-body injury) and D Ryan Murray (hand injury) traveled with the Blue Jackets but did not play. ... Pittsburgh LW Scott Wilson played in his 100th NHL game. ... Columbus' healthy scratches were LW Matt Calvert and LW Lauri Korpikoski. ... Pittsburgh's healthy scratch was D Cameron Gaunce.