Artemi Panarin, Cam Atkinson, and the Columbus Blue Jackets will face off against Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center in an East-West tilt. The opening face-off takes place at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 16, and you can catch it live on NBC Sports Chicago.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Chicago Blackhawks Odds
The Blue Jackets (-120) are being tabbed as the favorites over the Blackhawks (+100) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-130 for the over, +110 for the under).
Columbus is 32-24 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.7 units this year. Through 56 regular season outings, 28 of its games have gone under the total, while 22 have gone over and just six have pushed. As an away team this season, the Jackets are 17-10 SU.
Columbus has converted on just 16.1 percent of its 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 second overall, and it has successfully killed off a whopping 84.5 percent of its penalties..
Averaging 25.6 saves per game with a .903 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (23-18-1) has been the best option in goal for Columbus this year. If head coach John Tortorella chooses to rest him, however, Columbus could roll with Joonas Korpisalo (9-11-2 record, .901 save percentage, 2.95 goals against average).
Over on the other bench, Chicago is 24-34 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. 37 of its outings have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just three have pushed. This season, the team is 13-16 SU as the home team.
The Blackhawks have converted on just 20.7 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 32nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 73.3 percent of all penalties.
Cam Ward (30.3 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for the Blackhawks. Ward has 12 wins, 13 losses, and four overtime losses to his credit and has maintained a mediocre 3.60 goals against average and a fairly-weak .898 save percentage this year.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Chicago Blackhawks Betting Predictions
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Over Chicago’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-1 in those games).
- Penalties and power plays may prove to be critical in the outcome of this matchup. The Blue Jackets are 18-8 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 26-20 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Blackhawks are 7-14 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 17-25 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Columbus might have an advantage if it’s a tight one late. The team’s an impressive 14-8 in one-goal games, while Chicago is 11-16 in such games.
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone over in each of their past five games.
- Columbus has averaged 6.6 giveaways over its last five home games, its season average of 7.2 giveaways per game (the fourth-fewest in the NHL).
- Chicago is ranked 10th this season with 9.1 giveaways per game. That figure has regressed, as the team’s averaged 11.2 giveaways over its last 10 games and 11.4 giveaways over its last five.
