Penguins vs. Blue Jackets prediction: Why Columbus is favored to win Friday's NHL matchup [10/9/2026]

Using trusted machine learning and data, we have re-simulated the outcome of Friday's NHL matchup between the Penguins and Blue Jackets, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.

Our famous predictive model gives the Blue Jackets a 51.9% chance of beating the Penguins. According to our model, the Penguins (+1.5) have a 68.5% chance of covering the puck line, while the 6.5-goal over/under has a 50.7% chance of staying under.

Latest betting odds

We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

• Puck Line: Penguins +1.5 (-235) / Blue Jackets -1.5 (+205)
• Moneyline: Penguins +100, Blue Jackets -115
• Total: Over/Under 6.5 (-118/+117)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Model picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets in this matchup. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

• Puck line: Blue Jackets -1.5 @ +205 via bet365
• Moneyline: Blue Jackets @ -115 via ESPN BET
• Total: Under 6.5 @ +117 via Caesars

According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 6.5 total goals.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the current available odds.

Penguins vs. Blue Jackets player props

Who will score a goal in Penguins vs. Blue Jackets?

According to our model, Bryan Rust is most likely to score an anytime goal in Penguins vs. Blue Jackets.

Our projections give Rust a 32.0% chance of scoring a goal at Nationwide Arena, while the star is a 6.2% chance of netting the first goal the game.

Anytime goal scorer predictions

Pittsburgh Penguins

• Bryan Rust: 32.0% probability
• Sidney Crosby: 30.7% probability
• Rickard Rakell: 28.5% probability
• Egor Chinakhov: 25.8% probability
• Evgeni Malkin: 25.8% probability

Columbus Blue Jackets

• Adam Fantilli: 30.2% probability
• Zach Werenski: 27.5% probability
• Matthew Knies: 27.0% probability
• Mathieu Olivier: 24.0% probability
• Charlie Coyle: 22.0% probability

First goal scorer predictions

Pittsburgh Penguins

• Bryan Rust: 6.2% probability
• Sidney Crosby: 5.3% probability
• Rickard Rakell: 5.0% probability
• Egor Chinakhov: 4.7% probability
• Evgeni Malkin: 4.5% probability

Columbus Blue Jackets

• Adam Fantilli: 5.7% probability
• Zach Werenski: 5.3% probability
• Matthew Knies: 4.7% probability
• Mathieu Olivier: 4.3% probability
• Denton Mateychuk: 3.7% probability

Game info & puck drop details

Friday's matchup between the Blue Jackets and Penguins at Nationwide Arena is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM ET.

• Who: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
• Date: Friday, October 9, 2026
• Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
• Venue: Nationwide Arena

Conclusion

We predict the Blue Jackets, with a 51.9% win probability, will likely beat the Penguins in Friday's NHL matchup.

Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.

This article's predictions and probabilities are generated by Dimers' proprietary NHL prediction model. Our editorial team reviews the resulting content for accuracy and presentation before publication.