Penguins vs Blue Jackets Prediction 3/21/25 NHL Picks Today

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins meet Friday in NHL action at the PPG Paints Arena. Here’s a Penguins vs Blue Jackets Prediction. This article will include a Penguins vs Blue Jackets Pick.

Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Devils and Panthers, and play the Islanders, Canucks, and Senators next. The Blue Jackets have lost five straight games and seven of their last eight games.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging 3.15 goals per game and are scoring 19 percent of their power play opportunities. Kirill Marchenko leads Columbus with 25 goals, Zach Werenski has 49 assists and Adam Fantilli has 154 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.28 goals per game and are killing 75.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Daniil Tarasov has allowed 60 goals on 507 shots faced, and Elvis Merzlikins has given up 135 goals on 1,312 shots.

Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Devils, lost to the Islanders, and they play the Panthers, Lightning, and Sabres next. The Penguins have won four of their last five games.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are averaging 2.9 goals per game and are scoring 24 percent of their power play opportunities. Rickard Rakell leads Pittsburgh with 31 goals, Sidney Crosby has 50 assists, and Bryan Rust has 148 shots on goal. Defensively, the Pittsburgh Penguins are allowing 3.56 goals per game and are killing 77.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Tristan Jarry has allowed 81 goals on 762 shots faced, and Alex Nedelijkovic has given up 100 goals on 919 shots.

Why the Pittsburgh Penguins will win

• The Blue Jackets have lost 18 of their last 19 games at PPG Paints Arena.
• The Penguins have won 11 of their last 12 home games against the Blue Jackets following a loss.
• The Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in 12 of their last 13 games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• The Penguins have covered the puck line in four of their last five home games against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• The Blue Jackets have lost the second period in seven of their last eight games as underdogs when trailing after the first period.

Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win

• The Penguins have lost five of their last six games as favorites.
• The underdogs have won four of the Penguins’ last five games.
• The Penguins have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games as favorites.
• The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the last four games between the Blue Jackets and Penguins.
• The underdogs have won the first period in each of the Penguins’ last seven games at PPG Paints Arena.

Penguins vs Blue Jackets Injury Report

The Blue Jackets will be without Jake Christiansen, Owen Sillinger, and Kevin Labanc.

The Penguins will be without P.O Joseph, Max Graham, Ryan Shea, and Joel Blomqvist. Tommy Novak and Emil Bemstrom are questionable.

Penguins vs Blue Jackets Prediction

I’m not thrilled to back the Penguins in the favorite role, but they are having a decent week and should have the edge at home, where 17 of their wins have come this season. The Blue Jackets are completely falling apart, with losses in seven of their last eight games and an offense that’s stuck in the mud. The Blue Jackets have been shutout in three of its last four games.

The Blue Jackets have scored a combined one goal in their last four games. I doubt playing an overtime game last night is going to help matters. The Penguins have lost twice this season to the Blue Jackets, so they’re no strangers to losing games they should win. The price is reasonable. I’ll still side with the Penguins on their home ice with the rest advantage.