Two teams squaring off for the first time this year, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the St. Louis Blues take the ice at the Enterprise Center in an East-West matchup. Fox Sports Ohio will showcase the matchup, and the opening face-off takes place at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 25.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. St. Louis Blues Odds
Columbus (+115) is entering this one as the underdog to St. Louis (-135), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 under, +100 over.
Columbus is 4-4 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season SU winning percentage is a drop-off from what the team recorded last season (45-37). Four of its contests have gone over the total, while another four have gone under and none have pushed. This 2018-19 Blue Jackets team is 2-1 SU on the road.
The Blue Jackets have found the net on 12.5 percent of their power play opportunities thus far. That’s a noticeable drop-off from last year, when they were ranked 25th in the NHL by scoring on 17.0 percent of their extra-man advantages. Their penalty kill has fallen off drastically year-over-year, as they’ve gone from successfully defending 75.0 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 29th overall last season) to 72.0 percent this year.
The Jackets, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.4 times per game this season. Last year, that figure was the lowest mark in the league at 3.1 penalties per game. The team served an average of 7.2 penalty minutes per game last season and is close to that same amount this year.
Averaging 26.0 saves per game with a .872 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (2-4) has been the best option in goal for Columbus this season. If it chooses to give him a rest, however, head coach John Tortorella might roll with Joonas Korpisalo (2-0 record, .902 save percentage, 2.95 goals against average).
The visiting Blue Jackets will be led by Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson. Panarin (nine points) has tallied three goals and six assists this season; Atkinson has four goals and three assists to his credit through the early stages of the regular season.
St. Louis is 2-6 straight up (SU) and has already lost 5.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through eight regular season contests, four of its games have gone over the total, while three have gone under and just one has pushed. It’s 1-3 SU at home this season.
The Blues have killed off a remarkable 82.1 percent of all penalties, compared to 79.6 percent a year ago (when they were ranked 17th overall). They’ve converted on 27.8 percent of their power plays this year after scoring on 15.4 percent (ranked 30th in league) last season.
St. Louis players have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 3.3, the third-best mark in the NHL. After serving an average of 7.7 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s had to kill penalties for 7.9 minutes per outing this season.
Jake Allen has stopped 27.9 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for the Blues. Allen has two wins, five losses, and three overtime losses to his name and has recorded a pedestrian 3.64 goals against average and a poor .882 save percentage this year.
The Blue Notes will be led on offense by Ryan O’Reilly (two goals, eight assists).
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. St. Louis Blues Free Picks
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Blues, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
The under has hit in three of St. Louis’ last five games.
Columbus skaters recorded 21.8 hits per game last season, while the Blue Notes logged 23.1 hits per matchup.
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