Nationwide Arena is playing host an East-West tilt as the Nashville Predators come into town to face the Columbus Blue Jackets. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 7, and you’ll be able to see it live on Fox Sports Ohio.
Nashville Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Columbus is 9-6 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 3.0 units this season. That win percentage, the second-best in the Metropolitan Division so far this season, hasn’t moved much from what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (50-32). Through 15 regular season contests, eight of the team’s games have gone over the total, while six have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 5-2 SU at home this year.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 11.1 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 23rd overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 78.0 percent of all penalties.
The Blue Jackets, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties just 3.3 times per game this season, a number that’s pretty close to the 3.6 penalties per game they were whistled for last year. After serving an average of 8.8 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has had to stave off opponent power plays for 7.5 minutes per matchup this year.
Averaging 28.3 saves per game with a .921 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (8-4-1) has been the best goalkeeper for the Jackets this year. Bobrovsky did just play last night, however, so Columbus might choose to give him the evening off and instead go with Joonas Korpisalo (1-2-2 record, .887 save percentage, 3.67 goals against average).
The Jackets will continue relying on offensive production via Seth Jones and Artemi Panarin. Jones (12 points) has produced three goals and nine assists and has recorded two or more points three times this year. Panarin has two goals and 10 assists to his name and has notched a point in seven contests.
Over on the other bench, Nashville is 7-7 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of eight of its games have gone under the total, while six have gone over and none have pushed. As the visiting team so far, the Predators are 4-5 SU.
The Predators have scored on 22.0 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 12th overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
Nashville’s skaters have been penalized 6.5 times per game this season, a number that has risen noticeably from the 4.0 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 10.6 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays for a noteworthy 16.9 minutes per outing this year.
Pekka Rinne (.930 save percentage and 2.19 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Nashville. Rinne is averaging 29.1 saves per game and owns a 6-4-2 record.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Predators will be Filip Forsberg (eight goals, six assists) and P.K. Subban (three goals, eight assists).
Nashville Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Under
Betting Trends:
- 55.6 percent of Columbus’ wins have come by two or more goals (the team is 5-5 overall in games decided by at least two scores) while 42.9 percent of Nashville’s wins have come by two goals or more (3-4 overall in such games).
- The extra-man advantage could prove to be critical tonight. The Predators are 1-1 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 2-1 in games where they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Blue Jackets are 5-3 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 6-4 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- The over has hit in three of Columbus’ last five games.
