NHL Game Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins (11-6-5) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (11-9-4)

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Columbus Blue Jackets logo

Venue & Game Details

Location: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio

Puckdrop: 7:00 PM ET

Broadcast: ESPN+ / Bally Sports Ohio / SportsNet Pittsburgh

Competition: Metropolitan Division rivalry matchup

Team Recent Form

Pittsburgh Penguins:

Road record: 5‑3‑3.

6‑3‑1 in last 10 games, averaging 3.2 goals per game, allowing 2.6.

Coming off a 4‑2 win vs. New Jersey, riding a two‑game win streak.

Columbus Blue Jackets:

Home record: 7‑4‑2.

5‑4‑1 in last 10 games, averaging 2.9 goals per game, allowing 3.1.

Beat Detroit 3‑1 on Nov 26, snapping a two‑game skid.

Injury Report

Penguins:

Kris Letang (upper body) – day‑to‑day

Bryan Rust (lower body) – out

Noel Acciari (illness) – questionable

Blue Jackets:

Patrik Laine (wrist) – out long‑term

Adam Boqvist (lower body) – day‑to‑day

Kent Johnson (ankle) – out

Player Matchups

Sidney Crosby (PIT): 12 goals, 15 assists – still the Penguins’ offensive engine.

Jake Guentzel (PIT): 10 goals, 14 assists – sniper, thrives alongside Crosby.

Evgeni Malkin (PIT): 8 goals, 12 assists – secondary scoring threat, dangerous on the power play.

Johnny Gaudreau (CBJ): 9 goals, 16 assists – Blue Jackets’ playmaker, key to their transition game.

Boone Jenner (CBJ): 11 goals, 7 assists – net‑front presence, physical leader.

Goaltending:

Tristan Jarry (PIT): 9‑5‑3, 2.61 GAA, .913 SV%.

Elvis Merzlikins (CBJ): 8‑7‑2, 2.95 GAA, .905 SV%.

Series History

Penguins lead season series 1‑0 after a 5‑3 win on Nov 5, 2025.

Pittsburgh has won 7 of last 10 meetings dating back to 2023.

Columbus last defeated Pittsburgh in January 2024.

Betting Trends

Penguins are 7‑3‑1 in their last 11 road games.

Blue Jackets are 7‑4‑2 at home, but inconsistent against divisional opponents.

Penguins games have gone over in 12 of 22.

Blue Jackets games have gone over in 13 of 24.

Summary

The Penguins (11‑6‑5) enter with momentum, led by Crosby, Guentzel, and Malkin, while the Blue Jackets (11‑9‑4) rely on Gaudreau and Jenner but face the challenge of Pittsburgh’s recent dominance in the rivalry. Expect a fast‑paced, high‑scoring contest at Nationwide Arena.

Game Odds

Pittsburgh Penguins                       6.5

Columbus Blue Jackets                  – 138

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, November 27, 2025

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NHL Editor
Profile: A seasoned NHL analyst with a comprehensive understanding of the league’s tactical systems, player‑development pipelines, and organizational strategies. This columnist provides in‑depth coverage that blends film study, advanced metrics, and historical context to explain how teams evolve across an 82‑game season and into the postseason. Background: With extensive experience covering professional hockey, the columnist has contributed to national sports outlets, digital platforms, and radio segments focused on roster construction, coaching trends, and league‑wide movement. A background in sports journalism and analytics supports a disciplined approach to evaluating performance, interpreting data, and tracking long‑term competitive cycles across all NHL markets. Signature Coverage Areas: Game previews and matchup analysis Film‑based breakdowns of offensive, defensive, and special‑teams systems Player evaluation, draft analysis, and trade‑deadline coverage Salary‑cap strategy, front‑office trends, and organizational philosophy Historical context, rivalry features, and postseason analysis Style & Approach: The writing emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and accessibility — translating complex systems and statistical models into insights that resonate with both traditional hockey fans and analytically minded readers. Each column reflects a commitment to balanced reporting, thoughtful evaluation, and a deep appreciation for the NHL’s speed, physicality, and evolving style of play.