The Pittsburgh Penguins (32-30-10) travel to face off against the Columbus Blue Jackets (23-38-12) on Saturday, March 30th. This game will be played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus and televised on ESPN+. The Penguins are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Blue Jackets are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Penguins. Puck drop is set for 7:00 ET.

Penguins vs Blue Jackets

The Pittsburgh Penguins Are Coming Off A Win

With their record of 74 points and 32-30-10 mark, the Penguins are in 13th place in the Eastern Conference and 7th in the Metropolitan Division. Over their last ten games, Pittsburgh has gone 4-6, and they have won two straight games.

As the favorite, the Penguins have gone 22-15-6 this season, and they have been favored in 43 of their 72 games. On the road, Pittsburgh has gone 12-17-6, and they have been the favorite in each of their last three games.

On the season, the Penguins have a puck line record of 33-39 and have 22 wins by multiple goals. In their last ten games, Pittsburgh has gone just 4-6 vs. the puck line, and their average scoring margin when favored is at +0.5 goals per game.

So far, the Penguins have gone 16-19 vs. the puck line on the road, and they have dropped their last two games vs. the puck line when listed as the underdog. Pittsburgh’s average scoring differential on the road is at -.4 goals per contest.

The Penguins most recently faced the Blue Jackets at home and achieved a 3-2 win. The first period saw the Penguins being held without a goal, but they turned things around offensively by scoring two times in the second period and one goal in the third. Out of Pittsburgh’s three goals, two were scored during power plays. They concluded the game with 36 shots on goal and had nine giveaways.

Despite the straight-up win, Pittsburgh did not cover the puck line, as they were favored by -1.5. The game finished below the over/under line of 6.5 with a combined total of 5 goals.

The Columbus Blue Jackets Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

At home this season, the Blue Jackets have gone 13-18-5, and they have lost four straight games. In the Eastern Conference, Columbus is in 16th place, and in the Metropolitan Division, they are in 8th place. On the year, the Blue Jackets have a record of 23-38-12, and they have gone 10-33 against the Eastern Conference.

As the underdog, Columbus has gone 19-36-11 this season, and they have lost four straight games as the underdog. Over their last ten games, the Blue Jackets have gone just 1-9, and they have lost their last five games.

As the underdog, Columbus has gone 38-28 against the puck line this season, including a 41-32 mark overall. They have 15 wins by multiple goals compared to 30 losses by multiple goals.

Currently, the Blue Jackets’ average scoring margin sits at -1 goal per game. In their last ten home games, their puck line record is 7-3, and they have gone 20-16 at home for the year.

The Blue Jackets aim to bounce back following their 3-2 loss on the road to the Penguins. Offensively, the Blue Jackets did not score in the first or third periods vs. the Penguins but found the net two times in the second period. In the game, Columbus managed to score all two goals at even strength. They concluded with 19 shots on goal and committed 3 turnovers.

Despite the defeat, Columbus managed to cover the puck line, going into the game as the underdogs. Combining for 5 goals, the game finished below the over/under line of 6.5.

Pittsburgh Offense Breakdown

On the offensive side, the Penguins are scoring an 2.9 goals per game this season, ranking 24th in the NHL. When it came to shots on target per game, they are 6th in the league. The Penguins went 20-18 in games where they had more shots than their opponents. However, in games with fewer shots on goal, their record was 11-11.

The Penguins come in with an over/under record of 29-38-5. Over the course of the season, they have had 42 games failing to surpass the 6.5 goal over/under line. The average number of goals in their games is at 5.9 per game.

Blue Jackets Offense Breakdown

In terms of their offensive performance, the Blue Jackets are averaging 2.8 goals per game this season, putting them in the 26th spot in the NHL. When it comes to shots on goal per game, they are ranked 19th in the league. This season, the Blue Jackets are 8-11 when getting more shots on goal than their opponents. And in games with fewer shots on goal, they have a 14-26 record.

For the season, the over/under record of the Blue Jackets’ stands at 34-35-4. They have had 37 games during the season that exceeded the 6.5 over/under line. On average, their games are averaging 6.5 goals per game.

Pittsburgh Team Defense

The Penguins defense is currently 16th in goals allowed. Opponents are averaging 30.1 shots per game against Pittsburgh. In terms of shutouts, they come into the game ranked 1st with 7 shutouts.

Columbus Team Defense

In terms of defense, the Blue Jackets head into the game ranked 1st in goals allowed. On average, opponents are taking 33.6 shots per game against Columbus. So far, they are 30th in shutouts, achieving 1 shutouts.

Penguins vs Blue Jackets Trends

• Across their three previous road games, Pittsburgh has an puck line mark of 1-2. Their straight up record in these matchups was 0-3 while averaging 2 goals per game.
• Across the Blue Jackets last ten home games, the team averaged 2 goals per game while allowing 3. Their record vs the puck line in these contests was 7-3, while going 4-6 straight-up.
• Looking back on the team’s last three games as the underdog, the Blue Jackets have a straight up record of 0-3. Their record vs the puck line in these games was 1-2.
• As the betting favorite, the Penguins have an puck line record of 2-1 in their last three games. In these matchups, their straight up record was 3-0.

Penguins vs Blue Jackets Prediction

For those seeking a straight moneyline bet, the Penguins are the top choice. Nonetheless, with a payout of -175, you might want to use this bet as a part of a parlay to get better odds.

My recommended pick for the puck line is to take the Blue Jackets to cover. Even if the Penguins win straight-up, this one should be close throughout and the Blue Jackets should cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.