The Columbus Blue Jackets, fueled by Cam Atkinson and Artemi Panarin, are set to take the ice against Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, and the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center in a divisional showdown. The match will get going at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 22, and it’ll be broadcasted live on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Philadelphia Flyers Odds
Moneyline and Over/Under (O/U) odds have not yet been posted for this matchup.
Though the team is 19-15 straight up (SU) this season, Columbus has actually lost 3.5 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 18 of its matches have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just three have pushed. As an away team in 2018-19, the Jackets are 9-6 SU.
Columbus has converted on just 14.5 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the bottom-5 overall among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and it has successfully killed off 80.2 percent of its penalties..
Averaging 26.0 saves per game with a .908 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (14-11-1) has been the primary option in goal for Columbus this year. If Columbus decides to rest him, however, head coach John Tortorella could turn to Joonas Korpisalo (5-7-2 record, .885 save percentage, 3.54 goals against average).
Philadelphia is 14-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 8.8 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 33 regular season outings, 19 of its games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and none have pushed. This year, the team is 7-9 SU as the home team.
The Flyers have converted on just 12.1 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 28th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 74.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Brian Elliott (25.0 saves per game) has been the primary selection in the crease for the Flyers. Elliott has seven wins and seven losses and has registered a 2.59 goals against average and a .911 save percentage this season.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Philadelphia Flyers Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Flyers, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- The Blue Jackets are 11-8 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 15-11 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- Columbus might have an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 8-5 in one-goal games, while Philadelphia is 5-7 in such games.
- Columbus is ranked fourth this season with just 7.2 giveaways per game. That figure has trended down recently, however, as it’s averaged 5.9 giveaways over its last 10 games and 4.6 giveaways over its last five.
- Philadelphia has averaged 8.6 giveaways over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 8.5 giveaways per game (the 9th-fewest in the NHL).
- The Flyers this season have handed the 11th-most hits in the league (22.7 per game).
