Blue Jackets Look to Flip the Script Against Penguins After Tough Season Series
Saturday, January 17, 2026 - PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
The Columbus Blue Jackets are riding into Pittsburgh with some serious momentum-and maybe a little something to prove.
Winners of three straight, including two in regulation since Rick Bowness took over behind the bench, the Jackets are starting to show signs of a team that’s buying into a new identity. The timing couldn’t be better, either.
Their opponent tonight? The Pittsburgh Penguins-familiar foes who’ve had Columbus’ number all season long.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the Penguins have taken five out of a possible six points from the Jackets across three meetings this year. And in each of those games, Pittsburgh clawed back from multi-goal deficits to either steal the win or force overtime. That’s the kind of trend that sticks in a team’s mind, especially one trying to turn the corner.
But this isn’t the same Blue Jackets squad that coughed up leads earlier in the season. Under Bowness, Columbus has tightened things up just enough to start turning good stretches into full 60-minute efforts.
That’s the key tonight-build on what’s working, but finish the job. A regulation win would pull the Jackets within three points of third place in the Metro Division.
That’s not just a moral victory. That’s a playoff chase heating up.
Merzlikins Gets the Nod Again
Elvis Merzlikins gets his second consecutive start in net, and while that might raise a few eyebrows, it’s far from unjustified. He was sharp in Thursday’s win, and Bowness is clearly rewarding performance over pedigree right now.
Merzlikins will face a familiar face on the other side of the ice-Team Latvia teammate Arturs Silovs gets the nod for Pittsburgh. It’s a nice subplot in a game that’s already rich with stakes.
Lineup Tweaks: Depth Rotation in Motion
Zach Aston-Reese draws into the lineup in place of Denton Heinen, while Egor Zamula returns to the blue line, swapping in for Jake Christiansen. These aren’t earth-shaking moves, but they do speak to Bowness’ approach.
He’s not afraid to rotate the bottom of the lineup to keep guys fresh and evaluate what he has. It’s a subtle but important part of building a team that can push down the stretch.
By the Numbers: Penguins Hold the Edge, But It’s Close
Statistically, Pittsburgh has the edge in several key categories-but not by a landslide. The Penguins are scoring at a clip of 3.17 goals per game, good for 14th in the league.
Columbus isn’t far behind at 2.98 (21st), but the real gap shows up on the defensive end. Pittsburgh allows just 2.91 goals per game (10th), while the Jackets are giving up 3.32 (26th), a number they’ll need to bring down if they want to stay in the hunt.
Special teams also tilt in Pittsburgh’s favor. Their power play is humming at 29.4% (2nd in the league), and their penalty kill sits at 83.2% (6th).
Columbus, meanwhile, has a middle-of-the-pack power play (20.3%, 17th) and a struggling penalty kill (74.2%, 29th). If the Jackets get into penalty trouble tonight, it could get dicey fast.
At even strength, things even out. Both teams hover around the 50% mark in shot attempt share and unblocked shot attempts, and their 5-on-5 shooting and save percentages are nearly identical. That tells us this game could come down to execution in key moments-something the Penguins have capitalized on in previous meetings.
Crosby vs. Werenski: Star Power on Display
Sidney Crosby continues to be the engine in Pittsburgh, leading the team in goals (25), points (51), and setting the tone in big moments. Erik Karlsson leads the team in assists (29), but it’s Crosby who’s been the difference-maker in this season series.
For Columbus, Zach Werenski has quietly matched Crosby’s point total (51) while leading the Jackets in both goals (18) and assists (33). He’s been the heartbeat of the team at both ends of the ice, and if the Jackets are going to finally get over the hump against Pittsburgh, Werenski will almost certainly be in the middle of it.
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
- Defense: Zach Werenski - Dante Fabbro Ivan Provorov - Damon Severson Egor Zamula - Erik Gudbranson
- Goaltenders: Elvis Merzlikins Jet Greaves
Pittsburgh Penguins
- Defense: Brett Kulak - Kris Letang Ryan Shea - Connor Clifton Parker Wotherspoon - Jack St.
Ivany
- Goaltenders: Arturs Silovs [Backup not listed]
Final Word
There’s no shortage of motivation for Columbus tonight. They’ve got a chance to tighten the Metro race, continue their winning streak, and finally get one back against a Penguins team that’s made a habit of late-game heroics. The Jackets are playing with a new edge under Bowness, and if they can bring that same intensity into Pittsburgh-and hold it for 60 minutes-this could be a statement win.
Puck drops at 7:00 PM ET from PPG Paints Arena. Let’s see if the Jackets are ready to close the deal this time.