Penguins vs Blue Jackets Prediction 1/4/26 NHL Picks Today

In this article, we will formulate a Penguins vs Blue Jackets Prediction for this NHL game on Sunday, January 4^th. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup.

Columbus Blue Jackets Preview

The Blue Jackets have 42 points this season with a 18-16-6 record, and are 21-19 ATS and 18-18 in over/under. They have a 9-7-3 home record and a 9-9-3 road record and are sitting 8th in the Metropolitan Division. They are coming off a 5-1 home win over the Sabres, and their previous three games were a 3-2 home loss to the Devils, a 4-1 road win over the Senators, and a 4-2 home win over the Islanders.

Offensively, the Blue Jackets are averaging 2.98 goals per game and are scoring 18.4% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.28 goals per game and are killing 76.1% of their opponent’s power plays.

Zach Werenski leads the Blue Jackets with 42 points, also leading the team in assists with 28, while Zach Werenski also leads the team in goals with 14. Jet Greaves is the starting goalie for the Blue Jackets, and he has a 12-10-5 record, with 2.56 GAA and .912 SV%. Elvis Merzlikins is the backup goalie and he has a 6-6-1 record, with 4.04 GAA and .877 SV%.

Pittsburgh Penguins Preview

The Penguins have 47 points this season with a 19-12-9 record, and are 24-16 ATS and 20-17 in over/under. They have a 9-6-5 home record and a 10-6-4 road record and are sitting 5th in the Metropolitan Division. They are coming off a 4-1 road win over the Red Wings, and their previous three games were a 4-3 home overtime win over the Red Wings, a 5-1 home win over the Hurricanes, and a 7-3 road win over the Blackhawks.

Offensively, the Penguins are averaging 3.23 goals per game and are scoring 29.6% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.05 goals per game and are killing 81.5% of their opponent’s power plays.

Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins with 45 points, also leading the team in goals with 23, while Erik Karlsson leads the team in assists with 27. Stuart Skinner is the starting goalie for the Penguins, and he has a 13-11-4 record, with 2.83 GAA and .888 SV%. Arturs Silovs is the backup goalie and he has a 7-5-6 record, with 3.20 GAA and .888 SV%.

Pittsburgh Penguins @ Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Trends: January 4, 2026

Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win

• The Penguins have lost each of their last eight games as underdogs on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• The Blue Jackets have won each of their last six games as favorites against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Blue Jackets have covered the puck line in each of their last eight day games.
• The Penguins have failed to cover the puck line in 16 of their last 20 day games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• The Penguins have lost the second period in seven of their last eight games as underdogs against Metropolitan Division opponents when tied after the first period.

Why the Pittsburgh Penguins will win

• The Penguins have won five of their last six games as underdogs against the Blue Jackets.
• The Blue Jackets have lost five of their last eight games as home favorites on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• The Penguins have covered the puck line in each of their last six games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• The Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in nine of their last 10 games as favorites.
• The Blue Jackets have lost the third period in each of their last seven games as favorites when leading after the second period.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the last six games between the Penguins and Blue Jackets have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Each of the Penguins’ last five road games on the second leg of a back-to-back have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Four of the last five games between teams from the same division have gone OVER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Blue Jackets’ last 15 home games against the Penguins.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Penguins’ last seven games.

Columbus Blue Jackets Player Prop Facts

• Zach Werenski has scored at least one goal in four of his last five appearances with the Blue Jackets as home favorites.
• Zach Werenski has recorded at least one assist in 24 of his last 26 appearances with the Blue Jackets as favorites.
• Kirill Marchenko ranks 1st in the league for shootout goals (5) this season.

Pittsburgh Penguins Player Prop Facts

• Sidney Crosby has scored the first goal in four of the Penguins’ last five games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• Bryan Rust has scored a goal in each of the Penguins’ last four day games.
• Kris Letang has recorded an assist in each of his last four road appearances against the Blue Jackets.
• Justin Brazeau ranks 1st amongst qualified players for shooting percentage (26.7%) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 28th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (76.11%).
• The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 25th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.28).
• The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 3rd in the league in power play percentage this season (29.63%).
• The Pittsburgh Penguins have suffered the equal-most losses when leading after Period 2 this season (6).

Penguins vs Blue Jackets Prediction

Both teams are tied 1-1 in their two meetings this season, with each one winning on the road. The Blue Jackets won by 5-4 in a shootout in Pittsburgh, while the Penguins won by 4-3 in overtime in Columbus. Both teams are tied 5-5 in their last 10 meetings.

In this Penguins vs Blue Jackets Prediction, the Blue Jackets are coming as -130 home favorites. The Penguins have more points this season but they are on the second leg of a road back-to-back and both teams have been playing very good hockey lately, as they are 5-1 and 4-1 in their last six and five games respectively. Both offenses have been excellent lately, as both teams have scored 4+ goals in seven of their last eight games combined and their previous two meetings this season had 9 and 7 total goals. Take the over 6.5 in this one.