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Penguins vs. Blue Jackets Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NHL Game

Gary Pearson

Last Updated: November 15, 2024 11:58 AM EST • 2 min 29 sec read.

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger defends the net against Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang as we offer our Penguins vs. Blue Jackets prediction.
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger defends the net against Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang. Photo by Charles LeClaire via Imagn Images

A bottom-feeder is defined as a person or thing having low status. Unfortunately, that specific slipper snuggly fits the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Blue Jackers and Penguins enter Friday's contest at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+) as two of the NHL's worst teams in the last month. 

Losing two in a row and 10 of their last 13, the Penguins are far removed from their days as consistent Stanley Cup odds favorites. Despite that vomit-inducing stretch, they are road favorites against Columbus, which tells you all you need to know about the state of the Blue Jackets.  

Columbus has lost six in a row by a combined 29-11, one of the reasons our Penguins vs. Blue Jackets prediction backs Sidney Crosby and Co. 

Penguins vs. Blue Jackets prediction

Odds via our best NHL betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.

My best bet: Penguins ML ⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -130 via Betway | Implied probability: 56.52%

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Let me start by saying I like the -130 odds for Pittsburgh to win about as much as a person with lactose intolerance being forced to eat macaroni and cheese for a week straight.

However, backing the Penguins on the moneyline is the best play.  

I like the +115 odds for the Pens to win in regulation, but I don't trust them enough to get the job done in 60 minutes.

While the Pens' stats are much worse than the Blue Jackets' overall, the latter has been even more rancid recently. The Blue Jackets have lost five of the six in their current skid by at least two goals and are returning home after a somewhat grueling West Coast road trip.  

The Pens woke up from their extended hibernation in the second half of Wednesday's game against the Detroit Red Wings but could not completely overcome a languid start. Still, securing a point after going down 2-0 is a step in the right direction. 

Pittsburgh has the most expected goals (46.01) but the second-worst goals-for above expected (-12.01). I expect a positive regression at some point, and there's no better spot than against a team that has allowed 4.83 goals per game in the last six. 

If you want to emulate the "Be Bold" message on the Pens' helmets, take Pittsburgh in regulation at +115. I'm taking the slightly safer option, as a winning $10 bet will yield a $7.69 profit. 

Penguins vs. Blue Jackets player prop bet

NHL picks made Friday; odds subject to change.

Kris Letang prop bet: Over 2.5 shots ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: +130 via Betway | Implied probability: 43.48%

Kris Letang had five shots against Detroit and has hit the Over on this total in three of the last five games and nine of the last 12. The +130 odds are as appealing as his recent Over stretch, and a winning $10 bet will profit $13. 

Penguins vs. Blue Jackets live odds & info

  • When: Friday, Nov. 15
  • Puck drop: 7 p.m. ET
  • Where: Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio)
  • How to watch: ESPN+
  • Favorite: Penguins (-130 via Betway)

Penguins-Blue Jackets predictions made Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

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Written By:
Gary Pearson
Gary Pearson has written professionally since 2010, focusing on sports betting since 2014. Before entering the sports betting space, he contributed to the Canadian Press, FanSided, the Hockey Writers, the Calgary Herald, and other publications. His work has also been featured in Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report. Gary, who consumes sports like a blue whale devours plankton, has a penchant for writing predictions and analyses across several sports, including hockey, soccer, football, tennis, and more. He bets regularly, preferring single-game picks, props, and live betting. While there isn't a sport he has yet to dabble in, Gary prefers betting on soccer, hockey, and football. He studied at various post-secondary institutions, including the University of Calgary, SAIT Polytechnic, and Griffith University, located in Brisbane, Australia. Gary has a marketing degree and completed his bachelor's degree in journalism at Griffith University. He feels strongly that life experience is as essential as post-secondary education, helping formulate more accurate predictions and analyses. Gary believes that competing at a high level of amateur sports during his formative years helped him better understand an athlete's psyche and the nuances and complexities of a team's dynamic, both on and off the playing surface. He feels that knowledge is immeasurably important when offering his analytical expertise. He has lived on five continents and currently resides in Canada.