The Columbus Blue Jackets are set to face the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at 7:00 PM EST at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This is the third and final meeting between these two teams this season, with the Penguins winning both previous matchups. Columbus aims to snap their recent losing streak, while Pittsburgh looks to rebound from their latest defeat to the islanders.

 

Recent Performance

Columbus Blue Jackets (31-27-10)
The Blue Jackets are currently on a five-game losing streak, with their most recent loss being a 1-0 overtime defeat to the Florida Panthers yesterday. Despite their offensive capabilities, averaging 3.15 goals per game, defensive struggles have been a concern, allowing 3.28 goals per game this season.

 

Pittsburgh Penguins (28-32-10)
The Penguins have shown mixed results recently, with a 4 game losing streak that turned into a 4 game winning streak. Their record in their last five games is 4-1-0, however, they are coming off a 4-2 loss to the New York Islanders on March 18th. Pittsburgh’s defense has been a significant issue, allowing 3.56 goals per game, ranking them in the bottom of the league in goals against and possess a 2.90 goals per game average.

 

Team Records and Trends

Columbus Blue Jackets

• Overall Record: 31-27-10
• Road Record: 11-19-4
• Power Play: 19% (23rd in the NHL)
• Penalty Kill: 75.3% (25th in the NHL)
• Last 10 Games: 3-6-1

 

Pittsburgh Penguins

• Overall Record: 28-32-10
• Home Record: 17-14-5
• Power Play: 24% (11th in the NHL)
• Penalty Kill: 77.3% (19th in the NHL)
• Last 10 Games: 5-4-1

 

Key Players to Watch

Columbus Blue Jackets

• Kirill Marchenko – Leading the team with 25 goals and 37 assists, Marchenko’s offensive contributions are vital for Columbus. His scoring touch will be vital in winning these games down the stretch.
• Zach Werenski – The defenseman has tallied 20 goals and 49 assists leading his team, providing significant offensive support from the blue line and in their own defensive zone.

 

Pittsburgh Penguins

• Sidney Crosby – The veteran superstar center leads the team with 24 goals and 50 assists, continuing to be a driving force for Pittsburgh’s offense.
• Rickard Rakell – With 31 goals and 28 assists, Rakell has been a consistent offensive contributor this season on the Penguins top line. His shooting percentage is high too at 17.9%.

 

Injury Report

Columbus Blue Jackets

• Jake Christiansen – Day-to-day.
• Owen Sillinger – Out.
• Kevin Leblanc – Injured Reserve.

 

Pittsburgh Penguins

• Emil Bemstrom – Out.
• Tommy Novak – Out.
• Joel Blomqvist – Out.
• Ryan Shea – Out.
• Max Graham – Out.
• Pierre-Olivier Joseph – Injured Reserve.

 

Goaltending Matchup

Columbus Blue Jackets

• Daniil Tarasov – Expected to start, Tarasov has a record of 7-8-2 this season, with a goals-against average of 3.51 and a save percentage of .882.

 

Pittsburgh Penguins

• Alex Nedeljkovic – Confirmed to start, Nedeljkovic has a record of 12-14-5 this season, with a goals-against average of 3.17 and a save percentage of .891.

 

Game Outlook

Both teams are looking to overcome recent challenges. Columbus aims to break their losing streak and keep their playoff hopes alive, while Pittsburgh seeks to improve their defensive performance and capitalize on home-ice advantage. Special teams could play a pivotal role, with Pittsburgh’s power play ranking higher than Columbus’s penalty kill. The goaltending performances will also be crucial in determining the outcome of this matchup. Expect a competitive game as both teams vie for crucial points.

 

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– BetOnBanana