[corner-ad id=2]Columbus (0-1) at Pittsburgh (1-0)
When: Friday, April 14th 2017
Where: PPG PAINTS Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: NHL Network
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The Pittsburgh Penguins look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 2 of their first round battle at PPG PAINTS Arena on Friday night. The Blue Jackets failed to solve Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in the 3-1 Game 1 loss on Wednesday. Columbus failed on all 16 shots in the first period and fell behind 3-0 in the second and could never mount a rally. Sergei Bobrovsky needs to get back on track in net, as the former Vezina Trophy winner has yielded 16 goals during his five-game losing streak. Brandon Saad looks to atone from a poor Game 1 performance that saw the 24-year-old Pittsburgh native limited to just 1:45 of ice time in the third period. Blue Jackets forward Matt Calvert scored midway into the third period, marking his second goal in as many games and third point after being held off the scoresheet in his previous 11 contests. Josh Anderson set up the goal on Wednesday to raise his assist total to three in five games versus the Penguins.
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After excelling as a last-minute replacement to the injured Matt Murray, Fleury has been confirmed to start on Friday in Game 2. Phil Kessel is off to another fast postseason start after enjoying quite the playoffs last spring in which he led Pittsburgh in both goals (10) and points (22). Kessel scored a power-play goal and assisted on Bryan Rust’s second-period goal to record his sixth multi-point performance in 25 career playoff games with the Penguins. Rust, who missed Thursday’s practice due to a maintenance day, has been better at home during the playoffs with four goals in his last five home games. Center Evgeni Malkin (upper body) returned from a 13-game absence to set up two goals, moving past Jaromir Jagr for third place on the club’s all-time postseason assists list with 83. Rookie goaltender Tristan Jarry will serve as Fleury’s backup in place of Murray, who is still sidelined with a lower-body injury.
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Pittsburgh is just too much for Columbus in this series. The Blue Jackets struggled down the stretch in the regular season while Pittsburgh got hot at the end. I can easily see a sweep here.
Pick: Penguins -160
W/L TRENDS
| Columbus |
- Blue Jackets are 13-3 in their last 16 Friday games.
- Blue Jackets are 30-78 in their last 108 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Blue Jackets are 1-4 in their last 5 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Blue Jackets are 2-9 in their last 11 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Blue Jackets are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Blue Jackets are 1-6 in their last 7 road games.
- Blue Jackets are 1-7 in their last 8 overall.
- Blue Jackets are 0-5 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Blue Jackets are 0-5 in their last 5 vs. Metropolitan.
- Blue Jackets are 0-6 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Blue Jackets are 0-5 in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
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| Pittsburgh |
- Penguins are 4-0 in their last 4 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Penguins are 4-1 in their last 5 Friday games.
- Penguins are 57-18 in their last 75 home games.
- Penguins are 9-3 in their last 12 games following a win.
- Penguins are 19-7 in their last 26 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Penguins are 39-15 in their last 54 vs. Metropolitan.
- Penguins are 5-2 in their last 7 overall.
- Penguins are 50-20 in their last 70 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Penguins are 61-27 in their last 88 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Penguins are 49-23 in their last 72 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
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OU TRENDS
| Columbus |
- Under is 9-1-1 in Blue Jackets last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 7-1-1 in Blue Jackets last 9 road games.
- Under is 7-1-1 in Blue Jackets last 9 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Under is 7-1-1 in Blue Jackets last 9 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Under is 6-1-2 in Blue Jackets last 9 vs. Metropolitan.
- Under is 8-2-1 in Blue Jackets last 11 overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Blue Jackets last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 6-2 in Blue Jackets last 8 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2-1 in Blue Jackets last 9 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Under is 8-3-1 in Blue Jackets last 12 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 16-6-1 in Blue Jackets last 23 Friday games.
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| Pittsburgh |
- Over is 4-1 in Penguins last 5 Friday games.
- Under is 4-1 in Penguins last 5 vs. Metropolitan.
- Over is 7-2-1 in Penguins last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 17-5-6 in Penguins last 28 vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Over is 40-16-7 in Penguins last 63 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Penguins last 7 games following a win.
- Over is 28-12-1 in Penguins last 41 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Over is 47-21-11 in Penguins last 79 home games.
- Over is 25-12 in Penguins last 37 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Over is 31-15 in Penguins last 46 vs. Eastern Conference.
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HEAD TO HEAD
- Home team is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
- Blue Jackets are 2-5 in the last 7 meetings.
- Blue Jackets are 0-4 in the last 4 meetings in Pittsburgh.
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Trends courtesy of SportsOptions.com – an UltimateCapper.com partner
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