Penguins vs. Blue Jackets Prediction & Picks - Oct. 9

The Columbus Blue Jackets (1-1) take on the Pittsburgh Penguins (2-2) at Nationwide Arena on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Blue Jackets fell to the Utah Mammoth 4-1 in their most recent game, while the Penguins are coming off a 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals.

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Before watching this matchup, here's our prediction for which squad will emerge victorious in Friday's hockey action.

Penguins vs. Blue Jackets Predictions for Friday

Our computer projection model for this encounter calls for a final score of Penguins 4, Blue Jackets 3.

• Moneyline Pick: Penguins (-102)
• Total Pick: Over 6.5 (computer predicts 7.4 goals on average)
• Spread Pick: Penguins (+1.5)

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Blue Jackets Splits and Trends

• The Blue Jackets were 40-30-12 overall and 12-12-24 in overtime contests last season.
• Columbus picked up 32 points (11-13-10) in the 34 games it played that were decided by one goal.
• Looking at the 17 times last season the Blue Jackets finished a game with just one goal, they had a 3-11-3 record, picking up nine points.
• Columbus lost all 11 games last season when it scored exactly two goals.
• The Blue Jackets scored at least three goals 50 times, and went 37-4-9 in those games (to record 83 points).
• In the 23 games when Columbus recorded a lone power-play goal, it went 15-3-5 to register 35 points.
• In the 47 games when it outshot its opponent, Columbus was 24-16-7 (55 points).
• The Blue Jackets were outshot by their opponent 33 times, and went 15-13-5 (35 points).

Penguins Splits and Trends

• The Penguins (41-25-16 overall) posted a record of 7-17-24 in contests that required OT last season.
• Pittsburgh accumulated 27 points (10-8-7) in its 25 games that finished with a one-goal margin.
• Across the eight games last season the Penguins finished with only one goal, they picked up three points.
• Pittsburgh accumulated four points (0-9-4) when scoring exactly two goals last season.
• The Penguins scored more than two goals 60 times, accumulating 95 points (43-8-9).
• Last season Pittsburgh recorded a lone power-play goal in 30 games, posting a record of 15-8-7.
• When outshooting its opponent last season, Pittsburgh was 22-16-10 (54 points).
• The Penguins were outshot by their opponents 35 times last season, and took 39 points from those games.

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Team Stats Comparison (2025-26)

Penguins vs. Blue Jackets Game Time and TV Channel

• When: Friday, October 9, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET
• TV Channel: ESPN+
• Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
• Where: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio

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