PPG Paints Arena is the site for an enticing showdown as the Columbus Blue Jackets visit Western PA to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins. AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh will air this Metropolitan Division matchup, and the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 12.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh (-175) is heavily favored over Columbus (+155), and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. If gamblers want to play the game’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -105 money on the over and -115 on the under.
The Penguins are 17-14 straight-up (SU) and have not been kind to moneyline bettors (to the tune of -1.2 units) thus far. That early-season winning percentage is right in line with the 44-38 record the team managed during the 2018-19 season campaign. Of the team’s 31 regular season outings, 16 have gone under the total, while 14 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team is 12-6 SU at home this year.
Pittsburgh’s converted on just 15.9 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that puts the team in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.0 percent of all penalties.
Pittsburgh, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 3.1 times per game overall this season, and 3.8 per game over its past ten outings. The team has been forced to defend opposition power plays for just 7.9 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, overall.
Sporting a .897 save percentage and 24.0 saves per game, Matt Murray (11-10-4) has been the best goalkeeper for the Penguins this year. If the Pens choose to give him the night off, however, the team could roll with Tristan Jarry (7-5-5 record, .938 save percentage, 1.92 goals against average).
Jake Guentzel and Evgeni Malkin will each lead the charge for the Penguins. Guentzel (32 points) is up to 17 goals and 15 assists and has recorded multiple points in seven different games this year. Malkin has eight goals and 19 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 14 games.
On the other side of the ice, Columbus is 12-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 17 of its matches have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just one has pushed. As an away team, Columbus is 4-9 SU so far.
Columbus has converted on 18.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 17th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.0 percent of all penalties.
Columbus’ skaters have been whistled for penalties only 3.1 times per game this season, and 2.2 per game over their past five contests. The team’s had to kill penalties just 6.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Joonas Korpisalo (2.81 goals against average and .903 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Columbus. Korpisalo is averaging 25.5 saves per game and owns a 12-11-1 record.
Gustav Nyquist (seven goals, 12 assists) has been one of the top playmaking threats for the visiting Blue Jackets.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these clubs, the game went under the total in three of their last five matchups.
- Two offenses that put the puck on net a lot, Columbus has taken the league’s sixth-most shots on goal (33.8) and Pittsburgh has attempted the fourth-most (34.0).
- Eight of Pittsburgh’s last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 5-3 overall in those games.
- The Penguins this season have handed out the most hits per game in the NHL (30.1), but that number has risen to 41.2 over their last five games as the home team.
