Two teams currently on winning streaks, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Vancouver Canucks take the ice at Rogers Arena in an East-West tilt. The matchup will get started at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 31, and you can witness it live on Sportsnet 360.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Vancouver Canucks Odds
With a moneyline of -245, Columbus heads into the contest as the heavy favorite. The line for Vancouver sits at +205, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total sit at -125 under, +105 over.
Columbus is 44-34 straight up (SU) and has earned 3.1 units for moneyline bettors this season. 40 of its matches have gone under the total, while 37 have gone over and just one has pushed. As an away team in 2017-18, the Jackets are 19-20 SU.
Columbus has converted on just 15.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 30th in the NHL. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 24th in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 77.6 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Columbus has been called for penalties just 3.0 times per game overall this season, 3.4 per game over its last five games total, and 3.2 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team’s had to kill penalties just 5.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .923 save percentage and 28.2 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (36-27-5) has been the top option in goal for Columbus this year. If Columbus chooses to rest him, however, head coach John Tortorella could go with Joonas Korpisalo (8-8), who has a .902 save percentage and 3.23 goals against average this year.
Artemi Panarin and Thomas Vanek will both lead the way for the visiting Blue Jackets. Panarin has 73 points on 26 goals and 47 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 15 different games. Vanek has 24 goals and 31 assists to his name, and has registered at least one point in 37 games.
On the other side of the rink, Vancouver is 29-49 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 42 of its contests have gone over the total, while 36 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 14-24 SU at home this season.
Vancouver has converted on 21.5 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vancouver players have been penalized 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to kill penalties 8.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Jacob Markstrom (26.6 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom has 22 wins, 36 losses, and seven OT losses and has recorded a pedestrian 2.68 goals against average and a .913 save percentage this year.
Brock Boeser (29 goals, 26 assists) will pace the offensive attack for Vancouver.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Vancouver Canucks Betting Picks
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Columbus is 6-4 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vancouver is 0-3 in shootouts.
The under has hit in four of Vancouver’s last five games.
Columbus has attempted 33.7 shots per contest overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 28.0 in its last five road outings.
Vancouver has allowed 3.2 goals per game overall this year, but has given up only 1.0 per contest over its three-game winning streak.
Six of Columbus’ last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 6-0 in those games.
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