Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins December 6 Betting Preview

It's Tuesday. You know what that means: 50 percent chance of precipitation in the forecast, another busy NHL schedule, and the return of Columbus Blue Jackets hockey. The Blue Jackets' up-and-down season continues after a difficult 4-2 loss against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. CBJ heads out on the road for one game to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins before returning to Ohio for three-straight games, starting Wednesday night against the Buffalo Sabres. 

Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview

After an impressive 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets, the Columbus Blue Jackets lost their last game 4-2 to the Detroit Red Wings. Marcus Bjork scored on the power play, Ken Johnson scored CBJ's other goal, and Joonas Korpisalo made 31 saves in the loss.

After the loss on Sunday night, CBJ is now averaging 2.65 goals per game on 29.7 shots while giving up 3.91 goals on 36.3 shots per game. The Blue Jackets' powerplay didn't score against the Red Wings, leaving the Blue Jackets at nine powerplay goals and converting on just 15.5 percent of their chances. CBJ's penalty killer gave up two powerplay goals to the Red Wings, bringing the penalty-killing efficiency to 77.8 percent (16 powerplay goals against).

With Elvis Merzlikins activated off the injured reserve list and the Blue Jackets playing on back-to-back nights, we expect Merzlikins to start one of these games. Joonas Korpisalo has started the last two games and carried the workload while Merzlikins was injured.  

If Korpisalo starts, he has a 4-5-1 record, a 3.51 goals-against average, and a .905 save percentage. If Merzlikins returns to the net, he has posted a 2-5-0 record, a 4.74 goals-against average, and a .864 save percentage.

Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Penguins enter Tuesday night's matchup with a 13-8-4 record. The Penguins have won their last two games and three in their last five. Two of these games have hit the over of 6.5 goals, while three games ended with at least a 1.5-goal spread.

The Penguins are averaging 3.52 goals per game on 33.7 shots while giving up 3.12 goals on 33.8 shots per game. For the offensive talent the Penguins still have, their powerplay is only converting on 18.3 percent of their powerplay chances (fifteen powerplay goals), which is below the league average. The Penguins are killing 80.5 percent of their penalties (fifteen powerplay goals against). 

Tristan Jarry has started the last three games for the Penguins, and Pittsburgh has a reasonably consistent goaltending rotation. As such, we expect Casey DeSmith to get the start against CBJ. DeSmith has a 3-5-1 record, a 3.00 goals-against average, and a .908 save percentage.

Betting Odds And Predictions

The Blue Jackets will be listed around (+225) on the moneyline, while the Penguins will be listed around (-278). CBJ has an 8-15 straight-up record on the moneyline, while Pittsburgh has a 13-12 record on the moneyline. 

Columbus Blue Jackets fans, we're feeling wild today. Looking at the stats, their last game, and recent performances, the Pittsburgh Penguins, should win this game. Nonetheless, we're going to take the Blue Jackets to win on the moneyline as big underdogs and our main bet of this game hitting the over.