A couple of the least-penalized teams in the NHL, the Arizona Coyotes and the Columbus Blue Jackets take the ice at Nationwide Arena in an East-West matchup. The first puck will drop at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 9, and you are able to catch the game live on Fox Arizona Plus.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Netting moneyline bettors 2.9 units, the Blue Jackets are 18-11 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked fifth in the NHL so far in this young season, hasn’t moved much from what the team managed during last year’s regular season (50-32). Through 29 regular season outings, 15 of the team’s games have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just one has pushed. This year, the team is 10-5 SU at home.
Columbus has converted on just 9.5 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 31st overall in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.9 percent of all penalties.
Columbus, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 2.8 times per game overall this season, and 2.0 per game over its last five at home. The team has been forced to kill penalties for just 5.2 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 27.6 saves per game with a .927 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (15 wins, eight losses, and one OT loss) has been the best goalkeeper for the Blue Jackets this season. Bobrovsky did just play last night, however, so the team might choose to give him a breather and instead turn to Joonas Korpisalo (3-3-3 record, .907 save percentage, 2.81 goals against average).
The Jackets will continue to look for leadership from Artemi Panarin and Josh Anderson. Panarin (25 points) is up to seven goals and 18 assists and has recorded multiple points in three different games this year. Anderson has 10 goals and seven assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 14 contests.
Over on the other bench, Arizona is 7-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 16 of its contests have gone under the total, while 14 have gone over and just one has pushed. Arizona’s 4-15 SU as a road team this season.
Arizona has converted on just 16.3 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places it in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 15th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.7 percent of all penalties.
Arizona’s players have been penalized only 3.2 times per game in total this season, and 2.2 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 5.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Scott Wedgewood (2.98 goals against average and .908 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Arizona. Wedgewood is averaging 27.3 saves per game and has three wins, nine losses, and three OT losses to his credit.
Clayton Keller (11 goals, 12 assists) will pace the attack for the visiting Coyotes.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Arizona has managed 29.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Columbus is averaging 36.8 shots per game over its last five home outings.
Power-play opportunities may play a key role in this one. The Coyotes are 4-13 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 5-19 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Blue Jackets are 8-6 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 14-9 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Arizona is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Columbus is 3-1 in shootouts.
Columbus has forced 6.4 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a drop-off from its season average of 7.6 takeaways per game (ranked 15th in the NHL).
Arizona is ranked 30th overall with 5.3 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher, as it’s averaged 6.0 takeaways over its last 10 games and 9.2 takeaways over its last five.
Columbus might hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 9-2 in games decided by one goal, while Arizona is 5-9 in such games.
