The Columbus Blue Jackets, led by Gustav Nyquist and Pierre-Luc Dubois, are preparing to take the ice against Tyler Bertuzzi, Anthony Mantha, and the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena in an Eastern Conference tilt. The match will get going at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 17, and it’ll be showcased live on Fox Sports Detroit.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Detroit Red Wings Odds
Columbus is 13-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 18 of its contests have gone under the total, while 13 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the away team this season, the Jackets are 4-11 SU.
Columbus has converted on 17.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 19th in the league, and it has successfully killed off 80.0 percent of all penalties..
Averaging 25.5 saves per game with a .910 save percentage, Joonas Korpisalo (13-13-3) has been the primary option in goal for Columbus this year. Korpisalo did just play last night, however, so the team could choose to rest him and turn to Elvis Merzlikins instead (0-9-4 record, .889 save percentage, 3.41 goals against average).
Detroit is 9-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 35 regular season matches, 17 of its games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and just five have pushed. The team’s 5-13 SU at home this season.
The Red Wings have converted on just 16.1 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 31st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 73.8 percent of all penalties.
Jonathan Bernier has denied 26.0 shots per game as the top option in goal for the Red Wings. Bernier has seven wins, 14 losses, and two OT losses to his credit and has maintained a fairly-weak .897 save percentage and 3.22 goals against average this year.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Detroit Red Wings Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- 55.6 percent of Detroit’s wins have come by two or more goals (the team is 5-20 overall in such games) while 30.8 percent of Columbus’ wins have come by two goals or more (4-9 overall in such games).
- The Red Wings are 5-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 7-17 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total.
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their past five matches.
- Columbus has averaged 8.6 giveaways over its last five home games, its season average of 9.0 giveaways per game (ranked eighth).
- Detroit has averaged 14.4 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 12.2 giveaways per game (ranked 28th in the league).
