Free NHL Picks Today: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Pittsburgh Penguins 4/13/23

Pittsburgh is coming off a 5-2 loss against the Blackhawks on Tuesday. The Penguins committed only two penalties in the game, holding Chicago without a power play goal. Evgeni Malkin and Danton Heinen both scored once for the Penguins. Jeff Petry had two assists to lead the team in scoring.

Tristan Jarry saved only 22 of 25 shots against (.880%) in the loss. Columbus dropped their fourth in a row, falling 4-3 (OT) to the Flyers on Tuesday. Liam Foudy, Trey Fix-Wolansky, and Sean Kuraly each scored once for the Blue Jackets. Michael Hutchinson only had 35 saves on 39 shots against (.897%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Penguins have won all three games between the teams this season, including a 5-4 (OT) victory in their most recent meeting in March, their eighth straight win against Columbus. Sidney Crosby (1G 2A) and Malkin (0G 3A) each had three points to lead Pittsburgh. Emil Bemstrom (1G 1A), Foudy (1G 1A), and Kent Johnson (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Columbus. Casey DeSmith saved 15 shots to earn the shutout win.

FACING OFF

Pittsburgh is averaging 3.20 goals per game for the season, 16th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Blue Jackets team that is allowing 4.03 goals a game (31st).

Meanwhile, Columbus has found the net 2.60 times a game on average, 30th in the league, and the Penguins are allowing opponents to score 3.21 goals per game (19th).

Pittsburgh averages more shots/game (34.3) than most teams in the league, ranking fifth, though the team’s 9.4% shooting percentage is 26th. Columbus has proven to be one of the league’s less successful shot-stopping teams, ranking No. 29 with a team save percentage of .891%.

The Penguins’ 21.18% power play percentage ranks 16th in the league, while the Blue Jackets are 26th with a conversion rate of 17.97%. In terms of defending power plays, Pittsburgh has the league’s 16th-ranked PK% at 79.15%, while Columbus is 24th at 75.64%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

Crosby and Malkin have been the top skaters for the Penguins this season with 91 and 83 points. In the net, Jarry (24-13-6) is Pittsburgh’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.90 GAA and a .909% save percentage.

Johnny Gaudreau leads the Blue Jackets in scoring with 72 points. He has 19 goals and 53 assists in 78 games. Joonas Korpisalo (17-14-4) has the best goals against average for Columbus at 2.87.

He has a save percentage of .915%. Elvis Merzlikins (7-18-2) has played the most games in net for the Blue Jackets this season. He has a 4.23 GAA and a .876% save percentage.