Pittsburgh Penguins vs Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Pick & Prediction for 1/4

bangthebook nhl game preview

The Pittsburgh Penguins head to Nationwide Arena to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. This NHL Regular Season game is set for Sunday, January 4, 2026, at 3:00 PM. Fans can catch the action on ESPN+.

The Penguins, led by head coach Dan Muse, hold a record of 19-12-9. They rank 8th in the Eastern Conference and 5th in the Eastern Metropolitan Division. On the other side, the Blue Jackets, coached by Dean Evason, have a record of 18-16-6. They sit at 16th in the conference and 8th in the division.

Penguins vs Blue Jackets Game Day Info

  • Sport: NHL
  • Teams: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
  • Venue: Nationwide Arena
  • Date: January 4, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Columbus Blue Jackets MoneyLine -131, Pittsburgh Penguins MoneyLine +110

Pittsburgh Penguins Team Preview

The Pittsburgh Penguins are on a winning streak, taking four of their last five games. They recently defeated the Detroit Red Wings twice, with a 4-1 win away and a 4-3 victory at home. Their only loss in the last five games was against the Toronto Maple Leafs, losing 6-3.

Sidney Crosby is a key player for the Penguins, leading in points with 45 this season. In the recent game against Detroit, Crosby contributed with two assists. Bryan Rust has also been performing well, with goals in two recent games and a total of 36 points this season.

Stuart Skinner has been the main goaltender for the Penguins. In the game against Detroit, he saved 11 of 12 shots. With 13 wins in 28 games this season, he provides a strong presence in the net for Pittsburgh.

Columbus Blue Jackets Team Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets have had a strong recent performance. They secured a 5-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres with 34 shots on goal. Brendan Gaunce scored one goal, while Zach Werenski and Damon Severson each added two assists.

In their game against the New Jersey Devils, the Blue Jackets faced a narrow 3-2 loss. They managed 35 shots on goal but couldn’t convert any power-play chances. Charlie Coyle found the net once, and Boone Jenner contributed with an assist.

Columbus showed their strength with a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators. They recorded 22 shots and had 23 hits and 16 blocks. Damon Severson played a key role with one goal and one assist during this game.

BTB Betting Pick

The Columbus Blue Jackets are favored at -131 on the moneyline against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite being the underdog, the Penguins have a solid chance with a moneyline of +110. The projected score is Columbus 4, Pittsburgh 3. Columbus has shown better goal-scoring ability and ranks higher in assists, which might give them the edge in this game.

The over/under line is set at 6.5 with the over at -116 and the under at -105. The projected total score is 7, suggesting the over is a good pick. Both teams have high goals and shots on goal stats, indicating a likely high-scoring game.