Two teams that have put themselves firmly in the playoff hunt, the Minnesota Wild and the Columbus Blue Jackets meet at Nationwide Arena in an East-versus-West showdown. The matchup will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 30, and fans at home are able to see the game live on Fox Sports Ohio.
Minnesota Wild vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
With a moneyline of -125, Columbus heads into the matchup as the favorite. The line for Minnesota sits at +105, and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-130 under, +110 over).
Losing -0.1 units for moneyline bettors, Columbus is 27-22 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked second in the Metropolitan Division so far in the early season, is a slide from what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (50-32). Of the teams 49 regular season outings, 27 have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and just one has pushed. The teams 16-8 SU at home this year.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 13.5 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 28th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 77.3 percent of all penalties.
The Blue Jackets, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.1 times per game overall this season, and 3.8 per game over their last five home outings. The teams had to kill penalties for just 5.8 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 28.6 saves per game with a .920 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (22 wins, 18 losses, and three OT losses) has been the primary option in goal for Columbus this year. If Columbus chooses to give him a breather, however, head coach John Tortorella might roll with Joonas Korpisalo (5-5-5 record, .912 save percentage, 2.85 goals against average).
Artemi Panarin and Seth Jones will each be focal points for the Blue Jackets. Panarin (39 points) has tallied 12 goals and 27 assists and has recorded two or more points on seven different occasions this year. Jones has eight goals and 24 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 25 games.
On the other side of the ice, Minnesota is 26-23 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 49 regular season contests, 25 of its games have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under and just two have pushed. As an away team so far, the Wild are 9-15 SU.
The Wild have converted on 19.9 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 11th overall and it’s successfully defended 82.2 percent of all penalties.
Minnesota’s players have been penalized 4.1 times per game in total this season, and 2.2 per game over their last five outings. The teams been forced to defend opponent power plays just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Devan Dubnyk (.916 save percentage and 2.68 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for Minnesota. Dubnyk is averaging 27.7 saves per game and owns a 19-13-3 record.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Wild will be Eric Staal (20 goals, 23 assists) and Mikael Granlund (15 goals, 24 assists).
Minnesota Wild at Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions
Prediction: 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 6-3 overall in shootouts this year.
- The total has gone under in three of Columbus last five games.
- Over Minnesota’s last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
- The Blue Jackets this season have registered the 12th-most hits per game (21.9).
