Columbus Blue Jackets (17-17-6, 40 pts) at Pittsburgh Penguins (17-17-7, 41 pts)
Venue: PPG Paints Arena
Date: Tuesday, January 7
Time: 7:00 pm ET
TV: ESPN+ / FDSO / FDSW
Radio:
Columbus Blue Jackets – WBNS The Fan 97.1 FM
Pittsburgh Penguins – 105.9 The X
DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Columbus Blue Jackets +1.5 ML +130
Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5 ML -150
O/U 6.5
Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster
Columbus Blue Jackets News & Notes:
Columbus has alternated wins over their last five games, with three victories and two defeats over that span. This is a huge game for both teams, as they are only separated by one point in the Metropolitan Division standings. The Blue Jackets have struggled on the road this season, with a 4-12-3 record in 19 road games. The Blue Jackets won the first meeting between these two teams 6-2 on November 15 in Columbus.
Pittsburgh Penguins News & Notes:
The Penguins have lost three straight and four of their last five games, with all of the losses coming on the road. The Penguins have better luck at home, where they are 11-7-2 this season at PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh is tied in points for the second wild card spot but is on the outside looking in because they’ve played more games, every point counts as the Penguins try to hold off Columbus tonight and get into a playoff spot.
Columbus Blue Jackets Projected Lines:
Voronkov-Monahan-Marchenko
van Riemsdyk-Sillinger-K. Johnson
Aston-Reese-Fantilli-Olivier
Pyyhtia-Kuraly-Harris
Werenski-Fabbro
Mateychuk-Provorov
J. Johnson-Christiansen
Merzlikins
Tarasov
Get Your Columbus Hockey Merchandise Here:
Pittsburgh Penguins Projected Lineup:
Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Bunting-Malkin-Glass
O’Connor-Hayes-Beauvillier
Nieto-Lizotte-Acciari
Pettersson-Letang
Grzelcyk-Karlsson
Pickering-P.O. Joseph
Jarry
Nedeljkovic
Get Pittsburgh Hockey Merchandise Here:
Players To Watch:
Columbus Blue Jackets
Zach Werenski has been on a roll for the Blue Jackets with a three-game point streak and points in five of his last six games. The Grosse Pointe, Michigan native has four multi-point games over that span, including two assists in a 6-4 victory over the St.Louis Blues on Saturday. The 27-year-old defenseman leads Columbus in points with 45 (12g, 33a) in 40 games and is on pace for the best season of his career.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Michael Bunting has been steady all season for the Penguins but has been playing even better recently, with points in five of his last six games. The 29-year-old winger has five goals and two assists over that span. Bunting is on pace for 24 goals, eclipsing his previous career-high of 23, which he did in both seasons in Toronto with the Leafs.
Injury Report:
Columbus Blue Jackets
D Eric Gudbranson – IR
C Boone Jenner – IR
Pittsburgh Penguins
Philip Thomasino – IR
Next Game:
Columbus Blue Jackets – January 9 vs. Seattle Kraken
Pittsburgh Penguins – January 9 vs. Edmonton Oilers
Season 4. Episode 39. The Off Season – Bruins Benders Podcast
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