{"id":482189,"date":"2026-01-17T07:58:42","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T12:58:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=482189"},"modified":"2026-01-16T23:43:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T04:43:56","slug":"nhl-predictions-pittsburgh-penguins-columbus-blue-jackets-january-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2026\/01\/17\/nhl-predictions-pittsburgh-penguins-columbus-blue-jackets-january-17\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: January 17th, Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> host the Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a> in a rivalry game. Welcome back to NHL Predictions here with <\/span>Last Word On Hockey!<\/em> Each day, we provide in-depth analysis, insights, and predictions for games around the NHL. In tonight\u2019s matchup, Pittsburgh and Columbus jockey for positioning in the Eastern Conference Stanley Cup Playoff race.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/header>\n

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NHL Predictions: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Pittsburgh Penguins<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/header>\n
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Head-to-Head:<\/strong> Blue Jackets 1 – 2 Penguins<\/p>\n

Time:<\/strong> 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)<\/p>\n

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How to W<\/a><\/b>atch:<\/a> Sportsnet+, NHL Centre Ice, SN-PIT, ESPN+, FDSNOH<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Penguins Story<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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The Penguins come into this game off 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers<\/a>. With the win, the Penguins have points in back-to-back games, and are 7-2-1 in their last 10. With a record of 22-14-10, Pittsburgh sits in the third spot in the Metropolitan Division, just a couple of points behind the New York Islanders.<\/a> The Penguins have been playing stellar defence, and are one of the best teams defensively since the Holiday break. This has been a team effort from throughout\u00a0the lineup, paying off in tight games with fewer goals against.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Penguins put on an offensive show against the Flyers. Every single forward in the lineup recorded at least one point in the game. Sidney Crosby<\/a>, Evgeni Malkin<\/a>, and Thomas Novak recorded two. In the absence of Erik Karlsson<\/a>, Kris Letang<\/a> has slotted back in as the top offensive defenceman for the Penguins. Having played that role for over a decade before Karlsson’s arrival, Letang is no stranger to pitching in offensively. He recorded an assist against the Flyers and all-round generated a ton of chances against Philadelphia. Against a stingy Columbus team, the Penguins as a whole will need to continue playing good team defence while looking for offence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Penguins have been operating their goaltenders on a rotational basis. With Stuart Skinner<\/a> starting against Philadelphia, expect Arturs Silovs<\/a> to play against Columbus. Silovs is 8-6-7 this season with an .892 save percentage. However, he\u2019s 3-1-1 in his last five, and has shown an ability to keep games close.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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LIZZO \ud83d\ude24 pic.twitter.com\/KspMRJanIX<\/a><\/p>\n

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 16, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n