Columbus Blue Jackets vs Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction, 1/7/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Location: PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: Sportsnet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (+162) Penguins (-196)

The Columbus Blue Jackets (17-17-6) are hitting the road to PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday where they will attempt to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins (17-17-7). The moneyline on this game has the Blue Jackets at +162 and the Penguins are priced at -196. The total is 6.

The Columbus Blue Jackets were on the right side of the scoreboard with a 6-4 win against the Blues their last time on the ice. Columbus earned 9 penalty minutes for this contest. The Blue Jackets had a great offensive game plan going into this one and it showed in the win. Moreover, they had 2 power play tries and were able to notch 1 goal. In the game, they netted 6 of the 39 shots they put on net.

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Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have 117 power play tries (13th in the league) and have a total of 31 goals in those chances. The Blue Jackets so far have had 1,166 shots attempted against them and have a save percentage of .876. Columbus has tried 1,207 shots and has a shooting percentage of 11.2%. While playing at even strength, the Blue Jackets have allowed 114 goals while scoring 111 on offense. Columbus has tallied 107 power play opportunities and they have scored 24 goals out of those chances, giving them a rate of 22.43%. For the current campaign, they have earned 40 points and their points percentage is sitting at .500. When talking about scoring goals, the Columbus Blue Jackets have earned 135 goals (7th in the league) this year and have conceded 145.

The player between the pipes for this game is Elvis Merzlikins. For his professional hockey career, Merzlikins is sitting with 97 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .478. His save percentage currently is at .902 during his 10,515 mins played. Merzlikins has had 6,558 shots against him and has recorded 5,917 total saves. Opponents have scored 641 goals against Merzlikins in his professional career and his average for goals against per game is 3.66. He has compiled a record of 81-89-33 and was named the starter in 203 games. Merzlikins has participated in 217 games throughout his NHL career.

When they took the ice last, Pittsburgh faced the Hurricanes in a game where the Penguins went home in defeat by a tally of 4-3. The Penguins scored 3 goals out of the 19 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 3 chances on the power play in this outing but weren't able to finish one of them with a goal.

This season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have tallied 124 goals, 41 points, in addition to a points percentage of .500. They have allowed 149 goals to be scored by of a combination of 128 goals at even strength and 21 goals while they had less men on the ice. The Penguins have tallied 93 goals at even strength and 31 goals (4th in pro hockey) while having a power play advantage. They have a total of 121 power play opportunities and they have a power play rate of 25.62%. Pittsburgh has taken 1,173 shots (10th in hockey) and has a shot percentage of 10.57%, while allowing the other team 1,289 shots. They have earned a penalty kill rate of 81.74% on their opponents 115 power play opportunities, and their save percentage is 88.4%.

On the other side of the ice you will find Tristan Jarry between the pipes. Jarry has earned a lifetime record of 144-91-28 and has been in net for 275 contests. Jarry's rate of quality starts comes out to 59.5% and he has 157 quality starts in his pro career. He has a tally of 7,171 stops out of 7,881 shots taken against him, which gives him a save percentage of .910. His opponents are averaging 2.94 goals per game and he has relinquished 710 goals altogether. He got the starting nod in 264 contests and has played for a total of 14,503 minutes.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy's Pick: Take Columbus (+162)

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