Pittsburgh Penguins vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, Picks & Odds | 04 Jan 2026

NHL Betting Preview: Penguins vs Blue Jackets

The Pittsburgh Penguins go up against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, with face-off scheduled for 15:00 on Sunday, January 4.

There is merit in backing the Blue Jackets on the Moneyline considering our prediction is that they will have the edge over the Penguins. Especially as odds of -133 are available about this happening.

Pittsburgh Penguins have triumphed in their previous four games. The latest was on the road where Detroit Red Wings were beaten 4-1 at Little Caesars Arena. Bryan Rust found the net along with three other players.

Columbus Blue Jackets were winners last time out. It was a 5-1 home victory against Buffalo Sabres at Nationwide Arena. The goals were shared around between five players including Denton Mateychuk. Goalie Jet Greaves had a great game and ended up with 32 saves (.970).

Head-to-Head Statistics

The Penguins beat the Blue Jackets when the teams last met. It was a 4-3 scoreline at Nationwide Arena. In the previous 10 games between the teams, they have won five apiece.

Starting Goalies

Arturs Silovs (Confirmed)

Season	W-L-OTL:	GAA:	SV%:	SO:
24/25	19-12-8	3.1	.887	2
23/24	3-0-1	2.47	.881	0

Jet Greaves (Confirmed)

Season	W-L-OTL:	GAA:	SV%:	SO:
24/25	26-19-9	2.6	.908	2
23/24	3-6-0	3.49	.908	0

5 wins, 4 losses and 1 overtime loss, averaging 3.4 goals from 27.9 shots on goal, with a 17.2% powerplay efficiency. The Penguins have been giving up 3.6 goals from 25.3 shots, averaging 3.2 penalties with a penalty-killing efficiency of 75.0%.

Sidney Crosby is the top points scorer with 11 points, 4 goals and 7 assists, with Bryan Rust racking up 10 points, 6 goals and 4 assists, over the last 10 games. Goalie Arturs Silovs have a 3.18 goal against average with a .873 save percentage.

The Blue Jackets have 5 wins and 5 losses, averaging 3.2 goals from 29.5 shots on goal, with a 14.3% powerplay efficiency. They have been conceding 2.9 goals from 28.1 shots, averaging 3.7 penalties per game with a penalty-killing efficiency of 89.2%.

The top points scorer is Zach Werenski with 12 points, 5 goals and 7 assists, while Boone Jenner is next best after registering 8 points, 3 goals and 5 assists. Goalie Jet Greaves have a 2.18 GAA with a .923 SV%.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction & Picks

We dive into the best Pittsburgh Penguins vs Columbus Blue Jackets betting angles, including an expert match prediction, correct score forecast, top player prop bets and a value-focused bet builder.

Game Prediction

The pick for this NHL encounter is to back Columbus Blue Jackets at -133. We think that the road team are vulnerable, so this is the best angle of attack with our wager.

The NHL experts at Sportsgambler.com start by analyzing recent form and staying on top of injury news before making any hockey predictions. From there, we interpret the story the stats are telling to help shape our picks.

Key Penguins vs Blue Jackets stats:

• Blue Jackets have won 4 of their last 5 games.
• Penguins have lost 3 of their last 5 games on the road.
• Penguins have lost 11 of their last 20 games.

Blue Jackets Moneyline Probability

Looking at the latest betting odds, there’s a 57.1% likelihood of our pick delivering a return. After careful examination, our experts calculate this probability to be somewhere between 60-65%. This is why we can recommend this hockey wager.

We advise heading to the Match Winner & Total Goals lines if you want to combine the Columbus win with an Over or Under selection. This provides plenty of juice for bettors looking for extra value.

Explore the best betting offers before you stake your money. Our guide showcases a variety of welcome bonuses worth grabbing.

Our Game Prediction

Blue Jackets Moneyline @ -133 Bet Now

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Disclosure: This preview contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. T&Cs apply. We only recommend licensed and regulated operators. See our Editorial Policy. Pick odds and lines reflect the price available at the time of publication (Jan 3, 20:56). Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Player Prop Picks

Top Pick: Zach Werenski Over 3.5 Shots -100

Zach Werenski (Blue Jackets) has totaled Over 3.5 shots on goal in 4 straight games. There is odds of -100 available when it comes to this Shots on Goal wager and we think he’ll cover the line.

Pick odds and lines correct at publication. Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. T&Cs apply. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Correct Score Prediction

Penguins 2 - 4 Blue Jackets

We’ve got a correct score prediction which involves the Blue Jackets winning 4-2. Odds of +1500 look appealing and we should get a run for our money here.

Latest Correct Score Odds

Score

Penguins

Blue Jackets

1-0

Penguins

+6600

Blue Jackets

+6600

2-0

Penguins

+6000

Blue Jackets

+6000

2-1

Penguins

+1800

Blue Jackets

+1700

3-0

Penguins

+4500

Blue Jackets

+4000

3-1

Penguins

+2200

Blue Jackets

+2200

3-2

Penguins

+950

Blue Jackets

+900

4-0

Penguins

+5000

Blue Jackets

+4500

4-1

Penguins

+1900

Blue Jackets

+1700

4-2

Penguins

+1700

Blue Jackets

+1500

4-3

Penguins

+1000

Blue Jackets

+950

5-0

Penguins

+9000

Blue Jackets

+7000

5-1

Penguins

+3000

Blue Jackets

+2500

5-2

Penguins

+1800

Blue Jackets

+1600

5-3

Penguins

+2200

Blue Jackets

+2000

5-4

Penguins

+1700

Blue Jackets

+1600

6-0

Penguins

+12500

Blue Jackets

+10000

6-1

Penguins

+6600

Blue Jackets

+5500

6-2

Penguins

+3400

Blue Jackets

+2800

6-3

Penguins

+2800

Blue Jackets

+2400

6-4

Penguins

+4000

Blue Jackets

+3500

6-5

Penguins

+4000

Blue Jackets

+3500

7-0

Penguins

+4000

Blue Jackets

+14000

7-1

Penguins

+11000

Blue Jackets

+9000

7-2

Penguins

+8000

Blue Jackets

+6600

7-3

Penguins

+5500

Blue Jackets

+4500

7-4

Penguins

+5500

Blue Jackets

+5000

7-5

Penguins

+9000

Blue Jackets

+8000

7-6

Penguins

+9000

Blue Jackets

+9000

8-1

Penguins

+9000

Blue Jackets

+14000

8-2

Penguins

+14000

Blue Jackets

+11000

8-3

Penguins

+13000

Blue Jackets

+11000

8-4

Penguins

+11000

Blue Jackets

+9000

8-5

Penguins

+12000

Blue Jackets

+11000

View More

Pick odds and lines correct at publication. Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. T&Cs apply. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Columbus Blue Jackets Odds

The odds and lines below are updated regularly and may differ from the prices shown in our picks, which are captured at the time of publication.

The Columbus Blue Jackets odds have been priced up by the sportsbooks and they are -133 betting favorites to land victory in this game which means a 57% chance of winning. If you’re looking for an alternative angle, Pittsburgh Penguins are trading at +112.

The puck line is 1.5 and the total goals line is 6.5. The beauty of Totals is that you only have to choose from one of two options. If you're keen on Over 6.5, this selection is available at -115.

Whether you're placing bets before the puck drops or during the live action, the top betting sites offer hundreds of game lines and team props to explore. The sheer variety means there's no shortage of options to match your strategy.

Moneyline

Penguins

+112

Blue Jackets

-133

3-Way Moneyline

Penguins

+165

Tie

+325

Blue Jackets

+128

Puck Line

Penguins +1.5

-222

Blue Jackets -1.5

+176

Total Goals

Under 6.5

-105

Over 6.5

-115

The gambling sites will have player props available for each game. Check out the various odds and take a view on whether a player’s Total Goals, Points, Assists or Shots will hit over or under a certain betting line.

Micro betting is an exciting way to wager on the NHL. There are a huge range of live lines and it’s a simple case of predicting what is going to happen next. Next Goal, Next Goalscorer and several 10 Minute lines are among the options.

Latest regular season and playoff games stats.

Pittsburgh Penguins Stats

Columbus Blue Jackets Stats

Moneyline

• 5 wins and 5 defeats in the last 10 games
• 5 wins and 5 defeats in the last 10 games on the road

Moneyline

• 5 wins and 5 defeats in the last 10 games
• 4 wins and 6 defeats in the last 10 home games

Puck Line

• +1.5 Betting Line: Have covered the +1.5 puck line in 6 of the last 10 games
• +1.5 Betting Line on the Road: Have covered the +1.5 puck line in 7 of the last 10 games on the road

Puck Line

• -1.5 Betting Line: Have covered the -1.5 puck line in 4 of the last 10 games
• -1.5 Betting Line at Home: Have covered the -1.5 puck line in 2 of the last 10 home games

Total Goals

• Game Totals: An average of 7.10 goals in the previous 10 games
• Game Totals on the Road: An average of 6.00 goals in the previous 10 games on the road
• Over 6.5: Covered in 6 of the previous 10 games
• Over 6.5 on the Road: Covered in 4 of the previous 10 games on the road
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 3.50 goals and allowed 3.60 goals in the last 10 games
• Team Totals on the Road: Have scored an average of 3.00 pts and allowed 3.00 goals in the last 10 games on the road

Total Goals

• Game Totals: An average of 6.10 goals in the previous 10 games
• Game Totals at Home: An average of 6.60 goals in the previous 10 home games
• Over 6.5: Covered in 4 of the previous 10 games
• Over 6.5 at Home: Covered in 5 of the previous 10 home games
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 3.20 goals and allowed 2.90 goals in the last 10 games
• Team Totals at Home: Have scored an average of 3.20 goals and allowed 3.40 goals in the last 10 home games

Team Stats - Avg/Game

Last 10 Games

• Goals Powerplay: 0.5
• Shots: 27.9
• Goals Shorthanded: 0
• Penalties: 3.2
• Empty Net Goals: 0.2
• Penalty Minutes: 6.9
• Blocks: 13.5
• Faceoff Wins : 26.8
• Hits: 20.3
• Giveaways: 16.5
• Takeaways: 5.2

Last 10 Games on the Road

• Goals Powerplay: 0.6
• Shots: 27.1
• Goals Shorthanded: 0
• Penalties: 3.1
• Empty Net Goals: 0.2
• Penalty Minutes: 6.8
• Blocks: 11.6
• Faceoff Wins : 27.2
• Hits: 19.1
• Giveaways: 15.9
• Takeaways: 5.7

Team Stats - Avg/Game

Last 10 Games

• Goals Powerplay: 0.5
• Shots: 29.5
• Goals Shorthanded: 0.1
• Penalties: 3.7
• Empty Net Goals: 0.2
• Penalty Minutes: 8
• Blocks: 17.3
• Faceoff Wins : 31.5
• Hits: 20.8
• Giveaways: 16.4
• Takeaways: 5.3

Last 10 Home Games

• Goals Powerplay: 0.3
• Shots: 31.4
• Goals Shorthanded: 0.2
• Penalties: 3.2
• Empty Net Goals: 0.2
• Penalty Minutes: 6.9
• Blocks: 18.1
• Faceoff Wins : 30.6
• Hits: 21.8
• Giveaways: 16.3
• Takeaways: 5.1

Injuries & Suspensions

Starting Lineups

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