Columbus Blue Jackets vs Pittsburgh Penguins Game Preview and Prediction 3/7/2023

The Penguins open a five-game homestand as the Blue Jackets come to town. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. EST.

Columbus enters tonight with a 20-37-6 record (46 points) and sit last in the Metropolitan Division. The Jackets also sit last place in the Eastern Conference and the NHL sitting three points behind Chicago. If the season ended today, Columbus would have the best odds to win the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery. The Blue Jackets have been led in scoring by Patrick Laine and Boone Jenner who have tallied 19 goals each. Johnny Gaudreau leads the Jackets in scoring with 55 points while Laine has notched 42. Elvis Merzlikins has seen the majority of the starts in net this season notching a 4.15 goals against average, .879 save percentage and a 7-17-2 record in 28 games.

Pittsburgh carries a 31-22-9 record (71 points) into tonight’s game and sit fifth in the Metropolitan.  The Penguins sit one point behind the Islanders for the first wild card spot in the East but have three games in hand. Pittsburgh is three points ahead of Buffalo, Ottawa, Florida and Washington who all are on the outside looking in. Sidney Crosby continues to be the team’s best player as he leads the Penguins in goals with 27, assists with 46 and points with 73 through 62 games. Evgeni Malkin’s 63 points and Jake Guentzel’s 54 points round out the Pittsburgh top three. Tristan Jarry has been good in net when healthy this season notching a 2.77 GAA, .916 SV% and a 19-7-5 record in 32 games.

The Penguins have owned the Blue Jackets since Columbus came into existence in 2000 with 42 wins in 57 all-time meetings. Pittsburgh has won seven straight games and 15 of the last 17. Tonight’s projected starting goaltenders are Merzlikins for Columbus and Jarry for Pittsburgh.

Prediction: Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 1

This one is not going to be close. The Jackets are bad and the Penguins are playing much better and have Tristan Jarry between the pipes. The fact of the matter is that Pittsburgh owns Columbus and that is not going to change tonight.

Odds Presented By Betfred Sportsbook 

Spread – Columbus Blue Jackers +1.5 (+110) / Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5 (-130)

Moneyline – Columbus Blue Jackets +250 / Pittsburgh Penguins -320

Total – 6.5 – Over (-120) / Under (-100)

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