Nationwide Arena will play host to an East-West tilt as the Columbus Blue Jackets welcome the visiting Anaheim Ducks. Fox Sports Ohio will broadcast the action, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, December 1.
Anaheim Ducks at Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Columbus (+180) is entering this one as the underdog to Columbus (-215), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -125 for the under and +105 for the over.
The Blue Jackets are 16-9 straight up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 5.0 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked third in the league so far in this young season, is fairly close to what the team produced during the 2016-17 season (50-32). Among its 25 games this season, 10 have gone under the total, while 10 have gone over and none have pushed. The team is 9-4 SU at home this year.
Columbus has converted on just 8.7 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 32nd overall in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.9 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Columbus has been called for penalties just 2.8 times per game overall this season, and 1.8 per game over its last five at home. The teams had to defend opponent power plays for just 4.2 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
With a .935 save percentage and 28.1 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (14-6-1) has been the top option in goal for the Blue Jackets this season. If head coach John Tortorella decides to give him a rest, however, the team may turn to Joonas Korpisalo (2-3-3 record, .904 save percentage, 2.97 goals against average).
The Jackets will continue to look for leadership from Artemi Panarin and Zach Werenski. Panarin (16 points) is up to five goals and 11 assists and has recorded multiple points on two separate occasions this year. Werenski has seven goals and seven assists to his name and has notched a point in 10 games.
Anaheim is 11-14 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.9 units for moneyline bettors thus far. A total of 15 of its games have gone under the total, while nine have gone over and just one has pushed. As the road team so far, Anaheim is 5-5 SU.
Anaheim has converted on 18.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked ninth overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all penalties.
Anaheim’s players have been penalized 5.0 times per game in total this season, 4.8 per game over their last five contests total, and 4.4 per game over their last five road outings. The teams been forced to kill penalties 10.6 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
John Gibson (31.6 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Anaheim. Gibson owns an 8-12-2 record, while registering a .921 save percentage and 2.97 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Ducks will be Rickard Rakell (eight goals, 10 assists) and Corey Perry (four goals, 13 assists).
Anaheim Ducks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Two of Columbus last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 3-1 overall in shootouts this season.
- The under has hit in four of Columbus’ last five outings.
- Anaheim has managed 28.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Columbus has been attempting 35.8 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Anaheim skaters have accounted for the league’s fourth-most hits per game (25.4).
