The Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins will face off on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. The Penguins come in as slight favorites, while the Blue Jackets look to keep their momentum going under coach Rick Bowness after three consecutive wins. Can the Blue Jackets stop Sidney Crosby and the Pens to get a fourth win in a row? Keep reading right here to get my Blue Jackets vs Penguins prediction in the NHL.
Our Blue Jackets vs Penguins Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 3/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Pittsburgh Penguins
- Date & Time: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 7:00 PM Eastern
- Venue: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
Recent form
The Blue Jackets have been playing well lately, capturing wins in their last three outings, including a 4-1 triumph over the Canucks in which Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson each had a goal and an assist. Under new leadership, the Jackets have put together a respectable run of results, and they will try to build on those results here. The Penguins just snapped a three-game skid with a solid 6-3 victory over the Flyers on Thursday. Pittsburgh was led by Sidney Crosby’s goal and assist in that game. Now the Penguins will focus their attention on ending the winning streak of Columbus.
Goaltending
Elvis Merzlikins has recently steadied the ship in the Blue Jackets’ crease, recording a 30-save night against Vancouver. He is expected to get the start for the Jackets again in this game. Pittsburgh’s goaltending situation has seen contributions from Stuart Skinner in recent starts with strong save totals, and Skinner is expected to suit up between the pipes in this matchup.
Key skaters
Sidney Crosby continues to be the marquee threat for Pittsburgh with over 50 points on the season, consistently producing offensively and elevating the Penguins’ attack. Bryan Rust and contributors such as Egor Chinakhov have added some much-needed help beyond the top line. For Columbus, players like Marchenko, Johnson, and Charlie Coyle have provided goals and playmaking ability recently. The Jackets have found ways to spread their scoring around to several sources, which could pressure Pittsburgh’s defense if they can do it again.
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Penguins are 2-1 against the Blue Jackets so far this season.
- The road team has won all three games between these teams this year.
- Columbus is 23-23 in the over/under market this season.
- Pittsburgh is also 23-23 on over/unders coming into this contest.
Blue Jackets vs Penguins Model Projection
Final Thoughts
