Columbus Blue Jackets vs Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Pick & Prediction 3/21/25
Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Blue Jackets versus the Penguins? The puck drops at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on NHLN. The game will be played at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. The over/under goal line for this matchup is currently at 6.5 goals, and the Penguins are favored by -1.5 vs. the Blue Jackets.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS VS PITTSBURGH PENGUINS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5
This game will be played at PPG Paints Arena at 7:00 ET on Friday, March 21st.
WHY BET THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS:
- With a 1.5-goal advantage on the spread, our projections favor the Penguins to secure a 4-3 victory.
- Take the Penguins on the moneyline
- On the spread, we like Blue Jackets (+1.5)
Does Columbus Have What it Takes on the Road?
Columbus fell to 31-28-9 after a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. The Blue Jackets were underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 9 goals surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5 goals.
Defensively, Columbus struggled early, allowing five goals in the first period. Damon Severson scored for the Blue Jackets at 19:11 in the second period, making it 5-1.
Columbus fired 36 shots on goal but only found the net twice in their 7-2 loss to Washington. Damon Severson scored his 4th goal of the season, while Kevin Labanc added his 2nd. The Blue Jackets were held scoreless in the first period before Severson got them on the board 49 seconds into the second period.
Columbus recorded 13 giveaways and did not score on the power play. Adam Fantilli picked up his 4th assist on Severson’s goal, and Sean Monahan now has 5 assists after helping on Labanc’s second-period goal.
Columbus’s defense struggled in their previous game, allowing the first five goals, all in the first period. They gave up two more, one at 4:51 in the second period and another at 18:34 in the third. Goalie Daniil Tarasov made 15 saves with a 68.2% save percentage, facing 22 shots from the Capitals.
Can the Penguins Pull Out the Win as Home Favorites?
The Penguins improved to 28-32-10 with a 3-1 win over the Canadiens. Pittsburgh covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, with the total of 4 goals falling short of the 6.5 line.
Sidney Crosby scored twice, and Blake Lizotte added an empty-net goal to seal the victory. The Penguins kept the Canadiens scoreless until the third period.
Sidney Crosby led the way for the Penguins with his 4th and 5th goals of the season, including a power-play goal at 18:40 in the second period. Blake Lizotte added his 2nd goal of the year on an empty net with 45 seconds left in the game.
Pittsburgh took 24 shots on goal and recorded 14 giveaways. Lars Eller picked up his 3rd assist on Lizotte’s empty-netter, while Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson were credited with assists on Crosby’s second goal.
Defensively, the Penguins will look to build on their previous performance, where they allowed just one goal to the Canadiens. Alex Nedeljkovic made 25 saves with a 96.2% save percentage, and the defense recorded 5 takeaways and 19 hits. The only goal they conceded came at 5:32 in the third period.