PPG Paints Arena plays host to a divisional tilt as the Columbus Blue Jackets square off against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 21, and it will be showcased live on Sportsnet.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Columbus (+130) is currently the underdog to Pittsburgh (-150), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Columbus is 21-14 straight up (SU) and has earned 2.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 35 regular season matches, 17 of its games have gone under the total, while 16 have gone over and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Blue Jackets team is 8-8 SU on the road.
Columbus has converted on just 10.9 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s ranked 31st in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Jackets have been sent to the penalty box just 3.0 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 4.2 per game over its last five outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .919 save percentage and 27.5 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (17-11-1) has been the top option in goal for Columbus this season. If head coach John Tortorella decides to rest him, however, the team may roll with Joonas Korpisalo (4-4), who has a .911 save percentage and 2.84 goals against average this year.
The visiting Blue Jackets will be led by Artemi Panarin and Oliver Bjorkstrand. Panarin (28 points) has tallied seven goals and 21 assists, and has recorded two or more points in five different games. Bjorkstrand has six goals and 16 assists to his credit (and has notched a point in 18 games).
On the other bench, Pittsburgh is 17-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 19 of its matches have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team is 10-6 SU at home.
The Penguins have converted on 24.2 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places it in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Penguins players have been sent to the penalty box 4.4 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their past five contests. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Matt Murray (26.3 saves per game) has been the top selection in goal for the Penguins. Murray has 13 wins, 11 losses, and one OT loss to his name and has registered a subpar .907 save percentage and 2.88 goals against average this season.
Phil Kessel (15 goals, 23 assists) will pace the offensive attack for the home team.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
The total has gone over in three of Columbus’ last five outings.
This game features two clubs that shoot the puck early and often. Columbus has taken the league’s sixth-most shots on goal (34.3) and Pittsburgh has attempted the second-most (34.9).
Over Pittsburgh’s last ten outings, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 3-1 in those games).
The Pens this season have recorded the 10th-most hits per game (23.0).
