Columbus At Pittsburgh NHL Game 1 Winning Predictions

With the NHL playoffs set to get rolling on Wednesday night, the time has come to start making predictions about who might move on to the later rounds. There are a few series that seem like straightforward calls, but then there are a few that look destined to go the full 7 games. If I had to pick just one series that I am sure will go the distance, it would more than likely be the one that pits the Columbus Blue Jackets against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. The Metropolitan Division was far and away the best in the league this year, and it was almost a given that a pair of those heavyweight teams were going to meet in the opening round, which is actually a bit of a pity. The Penguins have proven that they know how to handle the rigors of the postseason, but while the Blue Jackets may be lacking in playoff experience, they are certainly not lacking in talent at both ends of the ice. This should be an epic series, so let’s take a look at the following NHL betting predictions here.

A Closer Look At The Blue Jackets At Penguins NHL Game 1 Winning Predictions

When: Wednesday, April 12 at 7:30 PM EST Where: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh TV: USA, SN360, TVAS3, ROOT, FS-O Live Stream: NHL.TV NHL Odds: Pittsburgh Penguins -1½ (+190)    

Why bet on the Columbus Blue Jackets

If you are looking for a team that is balanced in attack and defense, look no further than the Columbus Blue Jackets. They finished the regular season ranked 6th in goals per game, whilst finishing 2nd in goals allowed per game. The Jackets did stumble a little coming down the stretch, going just 3-5-2 in their final 10 games of the season, but some of that could simply be down to taking their foot off the gas a little after clinching a playoff spot quite early on. Columbus were fantastic on the road this season, going 22-12-7, and they will feel as though they will be able to go in and get a split from the first two games.

Why bet on the Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins are carrying a burden that no other team brings into the playoffs, which is that they are the current Stanley Cup Champions. They will have a huge target on their back, but this team has proven before that they are more than adequately equipped to handle that. The Penguins were the top scoring team in the league this season, but they may be a little susceptible on defense, where they landed middle of the pack. Pittsburgh also closed out the season in mediocre style, going just 4-4-2, but they did take 3 of 5 from the Blue Jackets in their regular season series.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

If the Blue Jackets are to spring the mild upset and move on the next round, they are going to need to find a way to win in Pittsburgh. That is a task that is easier said than done when you consider that the Penguins were 31-6-4 on home ice this season.

Columbus Blue Jackets 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 4