Free NHL Playoffs Prediction: Blue Jackets vs Penguins NHL Betting Odds
Looking for Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins free playoff plays & NHL betting odds? NHL betting sees the Blue Jackets taking on the Penguins on Wednesday April 12th at the PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey matchups all Stanley Cup playoffs long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions.
(50-24-2) Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (50-21-6)
2017 NHL Playoffs: Eastern Conference Round 1
NHL Series Odds: Pittsburgh – 155 | Columbus +135
NHL Stanley Cup Futures Odds: Pittsburgh +800, Columbus +1200
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It’s a Metropolitan Division showdown to start the Eastern conference playoffs on Wednesday night. Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Cam Atkinson and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The teams matched up four times in the regular season. Each team won two of the previous match ups with the home team winning each match up. Two of the four match ups also went to overtime, with the other two games not being close.
Columbus Blue Jackets
There is struggling into the playoffs, and then there is what the Columbus Blue Jackets did. They come into this series having only one win in their last seven games.
The problem the Blue Jackets have had as of late is scoring goals. In those six defeats they only scored above two goals once.
The Pittsburgh Penguins can score a lot of goals in a hurry so they need that to change if they want any hope in winning this series. It’s kind of weird to see them struggling so much as of late as they haven’t had that problem all season.
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They have been averaging three goals a game scored which is sixth best in the NHL. On the defensive side they have only given up 2.4 goals per game which is second best in the NHL.
To win this series they need to play well in the defensive zone. The Penguins have so many weapons in the offensive zone and they need to find a way to slow that down.
They also need to try and steal a game in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins once again feel like they have the pieces to win the Stanley Cup again this year but to do that they are going to need to get through the Columbus Blue Jackets to start.
The Penguins strength is on the offensive end of the ice.
They average 3.4 goals per game which is the best in the NHL, and that’s no surprise seeing how many weapons they have in that zone.
The Penguins are led by Sidney Crosby. He has 44 goals and 45 assists this season and is going to need a big series for the Penguins to advance to the second round.
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In the defensive zone is where the Penguins struggle. They give up 2.8 goals per game which is 17th in the NHL. One of the reasons for their struggles is they allow 32.6 shots on goal.
They have been saved a lot by goal tending this season.
They really need to try and limit the shots the Blue Jackets get on goal in this series. If they keep allowing over 30 shots a game they might be in for a long series
Free Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Series Prediction:
This game is going to come down to how well the Penguins defense can play, that will be the difference in this series. I think they will find a way to limit the shots on goals that the Blue Jackets are able to get and that will lead them to victory.
4* Free NHL Series Betting Pick: Penguins -155
I don’t think it will be easy for the Penguins though. I think that the series will go back and forth all the way to the end. I think that in game seven the home crowd will be difference in game seven and the Penguins will win.
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