The Columbus Blue Jackets and the expansion franchise Vegas Golden Knights take the ice at T-Mobile Arena in an East-West tilt. It’s the first time these two clubs have ever met head-to-head. The opening face-off takes place at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 23, and it can be viewed live on Sportsnet 360.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Vegas enters the game as the substantial favorite with a -160 moneyline. The line for Columbus sits at +140 and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Earning moneyline bettors 20.1 units, Vegas is 31-15 straight up (SU) overall thus far. Among its 46 games this season, 25 have gone over the total, while 19 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 18-4 SU at home this year.
The Golden Knights have converted on 17.9 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 13th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all penalties.
The Golden Knights, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.3 times per game overall this season, 3.2 per game over their last five games total, and 3.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
With a .946 save percentage and 29.5 saves per game, Marc-Andre Fleury (11-5-2) has been the primary goalkeeper for Vegas this year. If Vegas chooses to give him the night off, however, the team may go with Malcolm Subban (12-3-3 record, .914 save percentage, 2.49 goals against average).
The Knights will continue looking for leadership out of Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson. Marchessault (44 points) has tallied 17 goals and 27 assists and has recorded two or more points on 12 different occasions this year. Karlsson has 25 goals and 15 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 27 contests.
On the other side of the rink, Columbus is 26-21 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 47 regular season matches, 26 of its games have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Blue Jackets are 10-13 SU as the road team this season.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 13.1 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 32nd in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 22nd overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.0 percent of all penalties.
Columbus’ players have been penalized only 3.1 times per game in total this season, and 1.6 per game over their last five on the road. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 5.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sergei Bobrovsky (.920 save percentage and 2.44 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Columbus. Bobrovsky is averaging 28.3 saves per game and owns a 21-17-3 record.
Artemi Panarin (12 goals, 26 assists) has been one of the top facilitators on offense for the visiting Blue Jackets.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Vegas Golden Knights Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Three of Columbus’ last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 2-1 in those games and 6-3 overall in shootouts this season.
Two offenses that have clobbered opponents’ nets with shots, Columbus has attempted the league’s eighth-most shots on goal (33.8) while Vegas’s attempted the 10th-most (32.9).
Four of Columbus’ last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 0-4 in those games.
Columbus skaters have accounted for the 12th-most hits in the league (21.6 per game), but that number’s down to just 18.0 hits over their last five away games.
