Nationwide Arena is playing host to an intriguing showdown as the Nashville Predators come into town to face the Columbus Blue Jackets. This East-West matchup gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 10, and it can be seen live on Fox Sports Tennesse.
Nashville Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Moneyline odds have not yet been posted for this matchup.
Though the team is 27-18 straight up (SU) this season, Nashville has actually lost 1.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. 23 of its contests have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Preds are 12-11 SU on the road in 2018-19.
Nashville has converted on just 16.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.5 percent of its penalties.
Nashville, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 3.6 times per game overall this season, and 2.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 5.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .920 save percentage and 24.6 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (18-14-3) has been the primary option in goal for Nashville this season. Rinne did just play last night, however, so the team might choose to rest him and turn to Juuse Saros instead (10-7-1 record, .907 save percentage, 2.71 goals against average).
Ryan Johansen and Mattias Ekholm will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Predators. Johansen has 38 points on eight goals and 30 assists, and has recorded two or more points 10 times. Ekholm has five goals and 27 assists to his credit (and has logged at least one point in 24 games).
On the other bench, Columbus is 24-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. 22 of its matches have gone under the total, while 16 have gone over and just four have pushed. This season, the team is 11-10 SU at home.
Columbus has converted on just 12.8 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s ranked 32nd in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Columbus players have been whistled for penalties only 3.2 times per game this season, 2.6 per game over their past five games total, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sergei Bobrovsky has stopped 25.8 shots per game as the top choice in goal for Columbus. Bobrovsky has 18 wins, 14 losses, and one OT loss to his name and has recorded a mediocre 2.87 goals against average and a subpar .906 save percentage this season.
Artemi Panarin (13 goals, 32 assists) will pace the attack for the Blue Jackets.
Nashville Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- The total has gone under in three of Nashville’s last five outings.
- Columbus has attempted 32.0 shots per game overall this season (ranked 16th in the NHL), and 29.4 over their last 10 games.
- Power plays and penalty kills may play a critical role in tonight’s game. The Predators are 12-7 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 21-12 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Blue Jackets are 13-8 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 18-14 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Columbus is ranked 22nd in the NHL this season with 7.0 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended upward, as it has created 8.4 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.0 takeaways over its last five.
- Nashville has allowed 2.5 goals per game overall this year, but has given up only 1.3 per contest over their three-game winning streak.
- Nashville is ranked 15th with 7.9 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down lately, however, as it has averaged 7.3 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.8 takeaways over its last five.
