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Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets: Preview, Predictions and Picks for October 3, 2024

Published on:
Oct 3, 2024 9:11 AM
The Columbus Blue Jackets, sitting at 4-2-0 overall and 2-1-0 at home, look to continue their strong start at Nationwide Arena on Thursday, October 3, 2024, as they host the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are 2-3-0 overall and 2-1-0 on the road. The Blue Jackets will aim to capitalize on their momentum in front of their home crowd, while the Penguins seek to turn their season around. Puck drops at 7:00 PM.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Columbus Blue Jackets

Penguins vs Blue Jackets statistics

Stat Penguins Blue Jackets
Goals For per Game 3.20 3.83
Goals Against per Game 3.00 2.83
Shots per Game 27.8 33.0
Shots Against per Game 30.0 27.7
Power Play Goals 5 3
Power Play Goals Against 3 5
Short Handed Goals 1 1
Short Handed Goals Against 0 0
Penalty Minutes 67 59
Power Play Percentage 27.8 25.0
Penalty Kill Percentage 85.0 77.3

Columbus Blue Jackets recent games

Game Date Opponent Result Score
10/1/24 @ St. Louis Blues W 3-1
9/30/24 vs Washington Capitals L 3-2
9/28/24 vs Buffalo Sabres W 6-3
9/27/24 @ Washington Capitals W 8-4
9/25/24 vs St. Louis Blues W 3-0

Pittsburgh Penguins recent games

Game Date Opponent Result Score
10/1/24 vs Detroit Red Wings L 2-1
9/30/24 @ Detroit Red Wings W 5-1
9/29/24 vs Ottawa Senators W 5-2
9/24/24 vs Buffalo Sabres L 3-2
9/21/24 @ Buffalo Sabres L 7-3

Penguins vs Blue Jackets predictions

Heading into the showdown at Nationwide Arena, all eyes are likely on Jesse Puljujarvi from the Pittsburgh Penguins, who's been lighting up the scoreboards with 3 goals and an overall 4 points this early in the season. Given his current form, it wouldn't be surprising to see him leverage his sharpshooting skills against the Blue Jackets' defense. Drew O'Connor, too, has been setting up plays skillfully with a couple of assists to his name—expect him to be on the lookout for openings and potentially ramping up his contributions as well.

On the flip side, Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets is another player to watch, racking up an impressive 4 goals and 6 points. His aggressive play and knack for finding the net make him a critical piece in the Blue Jackets' offensive strategy. Kent Johnson isn’t far behind with his creative playmaking abilities, adding 3 assists so far. Their dynamic interplay could very well dictate the pace on their home ice, which makes them key figures to potentially tilt the game in Columbus's favor.

Considering the current standing and momentum of both teams, with the Blue Jackets holding a stronger overall and home record, they appear to have the upper hand in this matchup. The synergy between Fantilli and Johnson might just be enough to overcome the Penguins' challenge if Puljujarvi and O'Connor don't manage to break through Columbus's defense. Thus, it seems reasonable to lean towards Columbus sealing a win, especially with the advantage of the home crowd rallying behind them.

Columbus Blue Jackets injuries

  • Erik Gudbranson (D): Out
  • Justin Danforth (RW): Out
  • Jordan Dumais (RW): Out

Pittsburgh Penguins injuries

  • Vasily Ponomarev (C): Out
  • Taylor Gauthier (G): Out
  • Blake Lizotte (C): Out
  • Alex Nedeljkovic (G): Out
  • Filip Kral (D): Day-To-Day

Penguins vs Blue Jackets game info

Venue Nationwide Arena
Location Columbus, OH
Puck drop Thu 7:00 PM

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Odds

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