Two heavyweights in the Eastern Conference will throw down tonight when the Pittsburgh Penguins invade Ohio to take on the Blue Jackets in the Pens’ second game in as many nights. Sidney Crosby slotted home the OT Sportsbook last night in a game against the Jets in which he registered his 1000th career point. He and the Pens will look to ride off that momentum as they go for their third win in four nights.
- The Blue Jackets are 1-8 SU in their last 9 games after a win.
- The Penguins are 5-2 on the back end of their last 7 back-to-backs.
- The total has gone UNDER in the Penguins' last 5 games with no days off between games.
Super rookie Matt Murray will get the start for the Penguins tonight and that bodes poorly for the Blue Jackets and the OVER. The 22-year-old netminder has posted a .949 save percentage in his four starts since the all-star break and is coming off a shutout of the Vancouver Canucks. He’s coming into his own a year after winning a Stanley Cup during his first cup of coffee with the Penguins and has put himself at the forefront of the Calder Memorial Trophy conversation with consistent quality performances.
It’s been quite the ugly stretch for the Blue Jackets. They’ve scored just over two goals a game over the course of their last six and they have just straight up not been showing up the game after they win. They’re coming off a 5-2 victory against the up-and-down Leafs so this could be a good time to grab the Penguins at some value.
Pittsburgh opened as a slight road underdog and had been bet down to +116 at the time this was written. The Pens are the much better team in this situation and should always be bet when offering underdog odds.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
If you're backing the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins in this one, they Penguins listed earlier today as underdogs of 104 at most sportsbooks, including Sportsbook. Those over/under total betting saw the number open in the area of 6, depending on the book.
Odds Shark computer prediction formulas pick a 4.2-1.4 win for the Penguins on Friday. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Columbus Blue Jackets Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Supporters of the Pittsburgh Penguins have seen them go 36-13-7 so far this season, while the Blue Jackets are at 36-15-5. In totals betting, the Columbus Blue Jackets are 23-29-4, while the Penguins are 35-17-4. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Columbus vs Pittsburgh injuries news.
According to new NHL Power Rankings here at Odds Shark, it's the No. 28-ranked Columbus Blue Jackets and the No. 3-rated Pittsburgh Penguins in this matchup.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Columbus Blue Jackets No. 5-ranked offense (3.25 goals per game) against a Pittsburgh Penguins defense that ranks No. 15 at 2.82 goals per game allowed. The Blue Jackets Sportsbook has clicked at a 22.78% rate while the Penguins have a 79.57% rate on the penalty kill.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
In their last action, Pittsburgh was a 4-3 Sportsbook at home against the Jets. Bettors on Pittsburgh at -227 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (7) sent OVER bettors home happy as well.
Last time out for Columbus, they were a 5-2 Sportsbook as they battled the Maple Leafs at home. Moneyline bettors who got the Blue Jackets at -141 were rewarded, while the 7 combined goals moved the game OVER for totals bettors.
- Pittsburgh is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games
- Pittsburgh is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
- Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
- Columbus is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Columbus's last 5 games
- Columbus is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games at home
- Columbus is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Pittsburgh home to Detroit, Sunday, February 19th
Columbus home to Nashville, Sunday, February 19th
