Penguins vs. Blue Jackets NHL Predictions, Picks and Odds - Jan. 17

Both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets are coming off a win, heading into their matchup at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. The oddsmakers have made the Penguins solid favorites at -125 on the moneyline, and the Blue Jackets are at +105.

Pittsburgh secured a 6-3 home victory over the Philadelphia Flyers its last time out on Jan. 15. Evgeni Malkin (two assists) and Thomas Novak (two assists) were among the three Penguins players who recorded two points each.

Columbus won at home in its most recent game on Jan. 15, 4-1 over the Vancouver Canucks. The Blue Jackets were led in that matchup by Kirill Marchenko (one goal and one assist) and Kent Johnson (one goal and one assist).

As hockey action continues, get ready for the contest by checking out which team we predict will pick up the victory in Saturday's game.

Penguins vs. Blue Jackets Predictions & Pick

For insights on the upcoming game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets, computer-derived moneyline, over/under, and score predictions are below, per Dunkel Index.

• Prediction: Penguins 3 - Blue Jackets 2
• Pick OU: Under 6.5 (Dunkel projecting 5.01 goals)
  

Pick with the best in the business! Get free picks for every game, every week at the Dunkel Index.

Penguins vs. Blue Jackets Moneylines

Snag a peek below at the most recent moneylines for the Penguins-Blue Jackets matchup.

• Favorite: Penguins (-125)
• Underdog: Blue Jackets (+105)

Penguins Betting Insights

• The Penguins have been victorious in eight of their 18 games when they were favored on the moneyline this season (44.4%).
• When it has played with moneyline odds of -125 or shorter, Pittsburgh has compiled a 5-5 record (winning 50.0% of its games).
• The Penguins have a 55.6% chance (based on the moneyline's implied probability) to win this game.
• Pittsburgh's games this season have finished above this matchup's total of 6.5 goals 22 times.

Blue Jackets Betting Insights

• This season the Blue Jackets have been an underdog 30 times, and won nine, or 30.0%, of those games.
• Columbus has gone 6-12, a 33.3% win rate, when it's been set as an underdog of +105 or more by oddsmakers this season.
• The moneyline set for this contest implies a 48.8% chance of victory for the Blue Jackets.
• Columbus' games this season have had over 6.5 goals 22 of 47 times.

Penguins Key Stats

• Pittsburgh ranks 17th in the NHL with 146 goals scored (3.2 per game).
• Defensively, the Penguins have been one of the stingiest units in NHL play, allowing 134 total goals (2.9 per game) to rank 10th.
• Its +12 goal differential is the ninth-best in the league.
• The 37 power-play goals the Penguins have put up this season (fifth-most in the NHL) have come on 126 power-play chances.
• Pittsburgh's 29.37% power-play conversion rate is the second-best in the league.
• The Penguins have recorded one shorthanded goal this season (27th among NHL squads).
• Pittsburgh kills 83.21% of opponent power plays, the sixth-best penalty-kill percentage in the league.
• Pittsburgh wins 50.4% of its faceoffs to rank 16th in the NHL.
• The Penguins have an 11% shooting percentage as a team, which ranks 16th in the league.

Blue Jackets Key Stats

• Columbus has 140 goals this season (3.0 per game), 19th in the league.
• The Blue Jackets have allowed 156 total goals this season (3.3 per game), 28th in the NHL.
• it has the 23rd-ranked goal differential in the league at -16.
• With 24 power-play goals (on 118 chances), the Blue Jackets are 22nd in the NHL.
• Columbus' power-play percentage (20.34) ranks the team 17th in the league.
• In terms of shorthanded goals, the Blue Jackets have three.
• Columbus' has the 29th-ranked penalty-kill percentage (74.24%).
• At 51.1%, Columbus has the league's ninth-best faceoff win percentage.
• With a shooting percentage of 9.8%, the Blue Jackets are 28th in the league.