NHL Game Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins with Line Combinations 3/21/2025

Mathieu Olivier celebrating a goal with the Blue Jackets
Photo: Hector Urcia | Inside The Rink

Columbus Blue Jackets (31-28-9, 71 pts) at Pittsburgh Penguins (28-32-10, 66 pts)

Venue: PPG Paints Arena
Date: Friday, March 21
Time: 7:00 pm EST

TV: NHL Network
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 -105
Pittsburgh Penguins +1.5 ML -115
O/U 5.5

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Columbus Blue Jackets News & Notes:

The Blue Jackets have lost five games in a row, three by shutout that has caused them to fall out of playoff position. Columbus has struggled on the road this season with an 11-19-4 record. The Blue Jackets may be facing the right team to snap their losing streak with Columbus winning the previous two meetings between these clubs and outscoring the Penguins 10-5.

Pittsburgh Penguins News & Notes:

The Penguins had their four-game winning streak snapped in a 4-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday night. Pittsburgh is 17-14-5 at home this season and is 5-4-1 in their last ten games. The Penguins have struggled defensively, giving up 249 goal,s the second-worst total in the league

Columbus Blue Jackets Projected Lines:

Johnson-Fantilli-Marchenko
Voronkov-Jenner-Chinakhov
Aston-Reese-Danforth-Olivier
van Riemsdyk-Kuraly-Kunin

Werenski-Fabbro
Mateychuk-Provorov
Johnson-Severson

Merzlikins
Tarasov

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Pittsburgh Penguins Projected Lineup:

Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Dewar-Malkin-Tomasino
Koppanen-Lizotte-Acciari
Heinen-Hayes-Imama

Letang-Timmins
Grzelcyk-Karlsson
Graves-Kolyachonok

Jarry
Nedeljkovic

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Players To Watch:

Columbus Blue Jackets

There isn’t one player to watch for Columbus, the offense as a whole has disappeared. The Blue Jackets have one goal by Mathieu Olivier in their last four games. Columbus needs to find it’s scoring touch again, their top five scorers (Werenski, Marchenko, K. Johnson, Fantilli, and Voronkov) have gone four games without recording a point.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby has points in five straight games and will look to extend his point streak to six games tonight against the Blue Jackets. Crosby has been productive in March with six goals and seven assists in nine games. The 37-year-old Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native, leads the Penguins in scoring with 74 points (24g, 50a) in 68 games.

Injury Report:

Columbus Blue Jackets

C Cole Sillinger – IR
C Sean Monahan – IR
D Eric Gudbranson – IR
C Owen Sillinger – IR
RW Kevin Labanc – IR
D Jake Christiansen – Day To Day

Pittsburgh Penguins

D Pierre-Olivier Joseph – OUT
C Tommy Novak – Day To Day

Next Game:

Columbus Blue Jackets – March 24 at New York Islanders
Pittsburgh Penguins – March 23 at Florida Panthers

Season 4. Episode 33. Sweens Extension Bruins Benders Podcast

 Join the Bruins Benders Podcast as they cover the HOTTEST topics in the Boston Bruins market, along with…- Don Sweeney signs a two-year extension.- Bruins reportedly not waiting for coaches still in the playoffs? What changed?- Is the coaching search really coming down to Jay Leach and Ryan Mougenel?- Jeremy Swayman encouraging play at the World Championships?& Much More!Bruins Benders Premium Hoodies $55https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/get-bent-premium-hoodieBruins Benders Long Sleeve Tee $40https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-long-sleeve-tee-1Bruins Benders Tee $30https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-t-shirt-1For more from us, visit: insidetherink.com/bruins-bendersBoston Bruins Trade Rumors, Boston Bruins News, Boston Bruins, Jeremy Swayman, Joonas Korpisalo, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, Nikita Zadorov, Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei, Andrew Peeke, Parker Wotherspoon, Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic, Justin Brazeau, Cole Koepke, Trent Frederic, Matthew Poitras, Charlie Coyle, Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, Oliver Wahlstrom, Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, Joe Sacco, Don Sweeney, Cam Neely, Brandon Carlo Trade#nhl #nhlbruins #hockey #bostonbruins #nhlplayoffs #bruins #nhlhockey #nhlmemes #boston #nhlallstar #nhldiscussion #nhlnews #nhledits #nhldraft #bruinsnation #nhlawards #nhltrade #hockeylife #tdgarden #nhlhighlights #bostonsports #bruinshockey #bruinsfan #nhlblackhawks #nhlglobalseries #nhlfi #nhlleafs #nhltrades #nhltradedeadline #nhlcanadiens #nhl #nhlnews #hockey #nhlhockey #nhlplayoffs #nhledits #nhldiscussion #nhlmemes #nhldraft #nhlallstar #hockeylife #hockeynews #hockeymemes #nhlhighlights #icehockey #sports #hockeyislife #nhlbruins #hockeyplayers #hockeyfan #hockeyplayer #hockeyedits #stanleycup #nhlawards #hockeygame #hockeyboys #hockeygram #hockeyfights #nhltrade #nhltrades 
  1. Season 4. Episode 33. Sweens Extension
  2. Season 4. Episode 32. Dude, Where's My Coach?
  3. Season 4. Episode 31. The Draft Lottery
  4. Season 4. Episode 30. The Bruins Are Watching The Playoffs
  5. Season 4. Episode 29. The Offseason Begins.

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