Two of the heavyweights in the Metropolitan Division will do battle in Pittsburgh this evening when the 33-12-4 Blue Jackets visit the 31-13-5 Penguins. The Pens are a big favorite tonight and that makes sense as they’re the best home team in the league with a 21-3-2 record at the PPG Paints Arena.
- The Penguins are 8-1 SU in their last 9 games at home.
- Matt Murray allowed 6 goals on 23 shots in his last start against the Blue Jackets.
- The Blue Jackets are 10-0 SU in their last 10 games on Friday.
John Tortorella and the Blue Jackets caught everybody off guard this year with their 16-game win streak and No. 1 power play but it looks like they may be coming back down to earth a little. They’ve lost five of their last 10 games and Sergei Bobrovsky posted a brutal .908 save percentage in his eight January starts.
That’s a bad trend for the Jackets as they’ll be playing the highest-scoring team in the league this evening. Pittsburgh averages 3.55 goals on 34.4 shots per game – which are both the most in the NHL.
Punxsutawney Phil (Kessel) saw his shadow yesterday and that means six more weeks of OVERs. The total for tonight is 6 but I have a hard time seeing this game going UNDER. Both teams are near the top of the league in scoring and the Pens give up their fair share.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Sportsbooks such as Sportsbook had the Pittsburgh Penguins as -140 moneyline favorites in this particular NHL betting matchup earlier. The over under total, meanwhile, was set early at 6 before betting started to move the line at Sportsbook.
Odds Shark computer prediction handicapping models run on this game pick a 3.7-1.9 victory for the Penguins. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Pittsburgh Penguins Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Pittsburgh Penguins bring a 31-13-5 record to the battle against the 33-12-4 Blue Jackets. OVER/UNDER bettors have seen Pittsburgh go 32-13-4 so far and the Blue Jackets go 20-25-4. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Pittsburgh vs Columbus injuries news.
This game puts the Pittsburgh Penguins, most recently No. 2 in the Odds Shark NHL Power Rankings, up against the Columbus Blue Jackets, who rate a No. 15 in the latest survey.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Pittsburgh Penguins No. 1-ranked offense (3.59 goals per game) against a Columbus Blue Jackets defense that ranks No. 4 at 2.41 goals per game allowed. The Penguins Sportsbook has clicked at a 22.94% rate while the Blue Jackets have a 83.45% rate on the penalty kill.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Blue Jackets were a 6-4 Sportsbook in their most recent outing on the road against the Rangers. That made Sportsbooks of bettors who got Columbus at +117 on the moneyline, while the total score (10) was good news for OVER bettors.
Pittsburgh won its last outing, a 4-2 result against the Predators on January 31. Bettors who backed the Penguins at -156 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (6) sent OVER bettors to the payout window.
- Columbus is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 games
- Columbus is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Columbus's last 5 games
- Columbus is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games on the road
- Pittsburgh is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
- Pittsburgh is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games
- Pittsburgh is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Columbus home to New Jersey, Saturday, February 4th
Pittsburgh at St. Louis, Saturday, February 4th
