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

The Columbus Blue Jackets (1-1) host the Pittsburgh Penguins (2-2) at Nationwide Arena on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with each team back in action after a loss. 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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Ahead of this matchup, here's who we expect to bring home the win in Friday's hockey game.

Penguins vs. Blue Jackets Predictions for Friday

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

• Moneyline Pick: Blue Jackets (-123)
• 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 12-12-24 in overtime games as part of a 40-30-12 overall record last season.
• Columbus picked up 32 points (11-13-10) in the 34 games it played that were decided by one goal.
• The 17 times last season the Blue Jackets ended a game with only one goal, they went 3-11-3 (nine points).
• Columbus lost all 11 games last season when it scored exactly two goals.
• The Blue Jackets scored three or more 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 had a 15-3-5 record (35 points).
• When it outshot its opponent, Columbus was 24-16-7 (55 points).
• The Blue Jackets were outshot by their opponent in 33 games, going 15-13-5 to record 35 points.

Penguins Splits and Trends

• The Penguins (41-25-16 overall) posted a record of 7-17-24 in games that went to 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 two goals last season.
• The Penguins scored three or more goals 60 times, accumulating 95 points (43-8-9).
• Last season Pittsburgh scored a lone power-play goal in 30 games, posting a record of 15-8-7.
• When it outshot its opponent last season, Pittsburgh posted a record of 22-16-10 (54 points).
• The Penguins' opponents had more shots in 35 games last season. The Penguins went 16-12-7 in those contests (39 points).

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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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