NHL Best Bets for March for March 21: Expect Another High-Scoring Matchup
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Eric Kelly
- March 21, 2025
NHL Pick: Over 6.5 Goals (+130) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
With just one game on our NHL betting card tonight, we didn’t take long to make our pick for this matchup based on the latest NHL odds, as we expect plenty of goals to be scored between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins.
The previous ten meetings between the two teams have produced an average of 6.9 goals per game. More of the same please is what we are asking for in the only NHL game on our card tonight, with top sportsbooks setting the lines.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Friday, March 21, 2025 – 07:00 PM EDT at PPG Paints Arena
Pittsburgh and Goals Come Hand in Hand
When the Pittsburgh Penguins are involved, there is a strong chance we will see goals and plenty of them and despite the Columbus Blue Jackets previous three games going under the total, they have had the most games go over the total this season compared to the Penguins who have had the 3rd most go over the total.
On home ice, Pittsburgh is 31-13-2 to the over, whilst the Blue Jackets have seen the 4th most amount of games go over the total when playing on the road having gone 17-16-1 to the over.
Coming into this matchup, the Pittsburgh Penguins have allowed the 2nd most amount of goals per game with 3.60, whilst Columbus has seen the 6th most amount of goals allowed per game with 3.30.
Columbus Goal Games Drying Up
Although the Columbus Blue Jackets have seen the most games go over the total this season and have seen five of their previous ten games see 8 goals or more, they have also had an eye watering three shut outs in their previous ten games as well as their previous three games only seeing 1 Columbus goal scored, following back-to-back shut outs they scored just once in a 2-1 loss against the New Jersey Devils the last time out.
The one silver lining here is all three shut outs came against solid defensive teams (including two teams who won the Stanley Cup in the previous three seasons). If we ignore their three shutout games, the Blue Jackets have seen an average of 7.2 goals each game.
That being said we believe the Blue Jackets will get plenty of scoring opportunities against this Pittsburgh team, there has been 7, 8 and 10 goals scored in each of the last three games between these teams.
Columbus & Pittsburgh Trends & Facts
- Combined both these teams have gone 74-58-5 to the over.
- Combined both teams have averaged 6.15 goals per game this season.
- The Penguins have scored at least three goals in 37 games.
- The Penguins have been outshot by opponents in 38 games, going 15-18-5.
- The Blue Jackets have scored at least three goals in 40 games.
- When outshooting its opponent this season, Columbus is 14-10-4.
- Both teams have gone 4-6 in their previous 10 NHL outings.
The Pick
You would have to be a brave sports bettor to take the under when these two teams are involved, and yes for us all the stats and trends are pointing towards goals (especially if Columbus can bag a few given their poor scoring record as of late).
1, and if the Blue Jackets continue to dry up when it comes to goals, we still have faith this game can go over the total even if we might have to rely on the Penguins scoring the majority of the goals.
With two of the top over teams coming head-to-head and their recent goalscoring exploits against each other being in the high numbers, we are more than happy to take over 6.5 goals here for +130 NHL betting odds.
We wouldn’t happily bet this number down to +115 and we would also advise taking the 6 line at -120. Be sure to shop around for the best odds and prices as some sportsbooks offer as low as +105 for the over 6.5 NHL betting line.
NHL Pick: Over 6.5 Goals (+130) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
