Jackets vs. Penguins Game 5 Pick
The Pittsburgh Penguins look to close out the Columbus Blue Jackets when the two return to Pittsburgh tonight at 7PM ET for Game 5 of their series.
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Penguins are favored at home, as they are getting odds of -200 to win, while the Blue Jackets are being given a money line of +170 to win. The over/under total for the game is listed at 5.5 goals.
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Columbus avoided being swept when it picked up a 5-4 win at home in Game 4. The Penguins now hold a 3-1 lead in the series. Pittsburgh comes into tonight’s game 53-22-11 overall and 33-6-8 at home. Columbus is 51-26-9 overall and 22-14-7 on the road.
The Blue Jackets came out strong in Game 4 with their season on the line. They established a 3-0 lead early in the second period and held on from there. Boone Jenner would score the eventual game-winner five minutes into the third. Jake Guentzel got his fifth goal of the series for the Penguins in the final 30 seconds of play to make it a 1-goal game. Columbus was strong at the faceoff circle as well, taking 36 of the 57 faceoffs in the game.
Bet on Blue Jackets vs. Penguins
While Columbus again has its back against the wall, the Blue Jackets aren’t likely to have the same spark to start Game 5 tonight as it did in Game 4 at home. Pittsburgh is one of the best home teams in the NHL and the Penguins aren’t likely to pass up this opportunity to finish things off. They won Games 1 and 2 by a combined score of 7-2 and I expect another multi-goal win tonight.
NHL PLAYOFFS PREDICTION: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS -200