A couple of the least-penalized clubs in the league, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Carolina Hurricanes meet at PNC Arena for a Metropolitan Division tilt. The action will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 16, and it can be seen live on Fox Sports Ohio.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Carolina Hurricanes Odds
Each team currently has an identical -110 moneyline for this one, and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-125 money on the under, +105 on the over).
Columbus is 20-12 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 4.2 units this year. 16 of its games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. As a road team this season, the Jackets are 8-6 SU.
Columbus has converted on just 10.0 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s ranked 31st in the NHL. Having said that, it has the fifth-best penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 83.5 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Columbus has been sent to the penalty box just 2.9 times per game in the 2017-18 season, and 3.6 per game over its last five contests. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 7.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 27.3 saves per game with a .923 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (17-9-1) has been the top option in goal for Columbus this year. If it decides to give him a rest, however, Columbus might go with Joonas Korpisalo (3-4), who has a .903 save percentage and 2.97 goals against average this year.
The visiting Blue Jackets have relied on Artemi Panarin and Oliver Bjorkstrand this season. Panarin (28 points) is up to seven goals and 21 assists, and has recorded two or more points in four different games. Bjorkstrand has six goals and 15 assists to his credit (and has notched at least one point in 16 games).
Over on the other bench, Carolina is 13-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. 14 of its outings have gone over the total, while another 14 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team’s 6-7 SU at home.
Carolina has converted on just 15.0 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.3 percent of all penalties.
Carolina skaters have been called for penalties only 2.8 times per game in total this season, and 3.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Scott Darling (23.8 saves per game) has been the top option in goal for Carolina. Darling has seven wins, 15 losses, and six overtime losses to his name and has registered a poor .899 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average this season.
Teuvo Teravainen (eight goals, 16 assists) will lead the offensive counter for the Hurricanes.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Carolina Hurricanes Betting Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Three of Carolina’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 2-1 in those games and 3-3 overall in shootouts this year.
The under has hit in four of Carolina’s last five games.
Two teams that shoot the puck early and often, Columbus has taken the league’s fifth-most shots on goal (34.7) while Carolina has attempted the second-most (35.1). The Jackets have averaged 31.0 shot attempts over their last five road games and the Canes have taken 39.0 shots over their last five home outings.
