A couple of the least-penalized teams in the NHL, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Pittsburgh Penguins face off at PPG Paints Arena. This divisional matchup will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 24, and it can be viewed live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Columbus is 13-9 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 22 regular season contests, 11 of its games have gone under the total, while nine have gone over and one has pushed. This 2018-19 Blue Jackets team is 7-4 SU on the road.
Columbus has converted on just 16.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 19th in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 78.6 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Columbus has been penalized just 3.6 times per game overall in the 2018-19 season, 3.2 per game over its last five games total, and 3.8 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .917 save percentage and 27.9 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (8-7) has been the best option in goal for Columbus this season. Bobrovsky played last night, however, so the team could decide to rest him and instead roll with Joonas Korpisalo (5-3-2 record, .885 save percentage, 3.68 goals against average).
Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Blue Jackets. Panarin has 23 points via five goals and 18 assists, and has recorded two or more points in six different games. Atkinson has 14 goals and nine assists to his name (and has logged at least one point in 12 games).
On the other side of the ice, Pittsburgh is 8-13 straight up (SU) and has already lost 12.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 21 regular season contests, eight of its games have gone over the total, while another eight have gone under and four have pushed. This season, the team is 4-7 SU as the home team.
Pittsburgh has converted on 25.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for seventh-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Pittsburgh skaters have been whistled for penalties only 3.5 times per game this season, and 4.8 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Casey DeSmith has stopped 23.5 shots per game as the primary selection in the crease for Pittsburgh. DeSmith has four wins, nine losses, and three OT losses and has recorded a .924 save percentage and 2.39 goals against average this season.
The home team will be led on offense by Evgeni Malkin (nine goals, 20 assists).
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Free Picks
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Trends
For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their last five outings.
Columbus has attempted 32.6 shots per contest overall this season (ranked 12th in the NHL), and 31.3 in its last 10 games.
The Penguins are 3-6 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 6-8 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
Pittsburgh is ranked 6th in the league with 8.9 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended higher recently, as the team has managed 9.8 takeaways over its last 10 games and 10.4 takeaways over its last five.
Columbus is ranked 18th in the league with 7.0 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher, as the team has forced 7.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 9.6 takeaways over its last five.
Columbus may hold the upper hand if it’s a tight one late. The team’s 5-2 in one-goal games, while Pittsburgh is 2-7 in such games.
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