The Pittsburgh Penguins, led by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, are preparing to take the ice against Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, and the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena for a Metro Division showdown. This one gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 9 and it’ll air live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
The Blue Jackets (-145) are currently favored over the Penguins (+125), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-135 for the over, +115 for the under).
Losing 2.5 units for moneyline gamblers, Columbus is 37-30 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That winning percentage, ranked 3rd in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is right in line with the 45-37 record the team posted during the 2017-18 season campaign. Out of the team’s 67 regular season matches, 35 of them have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just six have pushed. The team’s 17-18 SU at home this year.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 15.3 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s ranked 29th overall in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated fourth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.1 percent of all penalties.
With a .905 save percentage and 25.6 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (28-22-1) has been the top goalkeeper for the Jackets this season. If the Jackets, however, choose to give him the evening off, head coach John Tortorella may turn to Joonas Korpisalo (9-14-14 record, .899 save percentage, 2.97 goals against average).
Pittsburgh has lost 11.2 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 36-31 straight up (SU). Through 67 regular season contests, 32 of its games have gone over the total, while 30 have gone under the total and just five have pushed. The Penguins are 17-17 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Penguins have converted on 25.3 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 17th overall and it’s successfully defended 80.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Matt Murray (.916 save percentage and 2.79 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Pittsburgh. Murray is averaging 29.1 saves per game and owns a 22-14-3 record.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- The Blue Jackets are 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while the Penguins are 1-2 in shootouts.
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone under in three of their last five games.
- Over Pittsburgh’s last ten games, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 3-1 in those games).
- Pittsburgh skaters have accounted for the league’s most hits per game (29.4), but the team’s recorded just 22.0 hits over their last five away games.