Pittsburgh Penguins vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Friday, October 9, 2026
Matchup Analysis
Special teams dominate the narrative, with Columbus flashing a 40.0 % power‑play conversion rate while Pittsburgh struggles to a 30.769 % rate, and the visitors’ penalty kill standing at a stout 90.0 % compared with the home club’s 66.667 % success. Those disparate percentages suggest the Jackets could capitalize on any lapses, especially if the Penguins fail to sustain their defensive discipline on the man‑advantage.
In net, Jet Greaves boasts a 0.907 save percentage and a 2.61 goals‑against average, edging Arturs Silovs, who posts a 0.892 mark and a 2.86 average. Both goalies remain unconfirmed for the contest, but the numbers tilt modestly toward Columbus, implying a slight advantage in shot‑stopping that could prove pivotal in a low‑scoring affair.
Rest favors the home side, which enjoys six days off versus Pittsburgh’s two, and neither team faces a back‑to‑back schedule. The additional recovery time should allow the Jackets to fine‑tune special‑team units and maintain fresher legs for the third period, while the Penguins head into the game with a tighter turnaround that could sap stamina.
There is no pick; the line is not taken and the side is passed.
Goalie Notice: This prediction assumes Jet Greaves (Blue Jackets) and Arturs Silovs (Penguins) as the starting goalies. This is not yet confirmed -- if a different goalie starts, this pick will be voided.
Team Comparison
Starting Goalies
Current Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIT Pittsburgh Penguins | +102 | +1.5 | O 6.5 |
| CBJ Columbus Blue Jackets | -122 | -1.5 | U 6.5 |
Model Projection
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIT Pittsburgh Penguins | -103 | +0.9 | O 8 |
| CBJ Columbus Blue Jackets | +103 | -0.9 | U 8 |
Our Picks
Key Matchup Factors
Key Matchup Factors:
- Penalty Kill Diff (-23.33): This factor contributes -23.33 to the projection, favoring Penguins.
- Pp Vs Pk (-14.10): This factor contributes -14.10 to the projection, favoring Penguins.
- Shots Per Game Diff (-11.50): This factor contributes -11.50 to the projection, favoring Penguins.
- Faceoff Pct Diff (+11.05): This factor contributes +11.05 to the projection, favoring Blue Jackets.
Recent Trends
Blue Jackets Trends:
- Columbus Blue Jackets is 1-4 ATS at home on a back-to-back
- Columbus Blue Jackets is 1-5 ATS on a 3+ game losing streak
- Columbus Blue Jackets is 4-11 ATS at home after a loss
- Columbus Blue Jackets is 1-5 straight up on a 3+ game losing streak
- Columbus Blue Jackets is 1-4 ATS on a back-to-back
Penguins Trends:
- Pittsburgh Penguins is 6-1 ATS with 3+ days rest
- Pittsburgh Penguins is 13-4 ATS on the road after a win
- The over is 8-2 in Pittsburgh Penguins's games in their last 10 games
- The over is 20-7 in Pittsburgh Penguins's games on the road as an underdog
- Pittsburgh Penguins is 13-4 ATS after a win
Head-to-Head:
- The over is 3-0 in Columbus Blue Jackets's games vs Pittsburgh Penguins
- Columbus Blue Jackets is 1-2 ATS vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Matchup Edges
Blue Jackets
Advantages
- Home ice advantage worth 0.3 goals in our model
- Strong offense averaging 3.5 GPG
- 6-day rest advantage over opponent's 2 days
- Dominant power play converting at 4000.0%
- Strong penalty kill at 6666.7%
Disadvantages
- Goaltending allows 3.5 GPG -- a vulnerability opponents exploit
- Goaltending concerns with a 0.877 save percentage
- Poor home record at just 17% win rate at this venue
Penguins
Advantages
- Potent offense averaging 4.5 GPG
- Dangerous power play at 3076.9%
- Reliable penalty kill at 9000.0%
- Penalty Kill Diff contributes -23.33 points favoring away
Disadvantages
- Playing on the road, sacrificing 0.3 goal of home ice advantage
- Averaging 3.2 GPG allowed on defense