A couple of teams that are squarely in the playoff hunt, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Washington Capitals clash at Capital One Arena for a divisional matchup. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 2, and you are able to witness the game live on Fox Sports Ohio.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals Odds
Columbus is 17-9 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 5.0 units this season. Through 26 regular season outings, 15 of its games have gone under the total, while 10 have gone over and none have pushed. As a road team in 2017-18, the Jackets are 7-5 SU.
Columbus has converted on just 9.2 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked third overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 84.8 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Jackets have been sent to the penalty box just 2.8 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 2.1 per game over its past ten contests. The team’s had to kill penalties just 4.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.1 saves per game with a .935 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (14-6-1) has been the primary option in goal for Columbus this year. If it chooses to rest him, however, the team could turn to Joonas Korpisalo (3-3 record, .907 save percentage, 2.81 goals against average).
Artemi Panarin and Josh Anderson will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Blue Jackets. Panarin has 19 points via six goals and 13 assists, and has recorded two or more points in two different games. Anderson has 10 goals and seven assists to his creditand has registered at least one point in 13 games.
On the other side of the rink, Washington is 14-12 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 14 of its matches have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 8-5 SU at home this year.
The Capitals have converted on just 20.2 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.8 percent of all penalties.
Washington skaters have been sent to the penalty box 4.6 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their past five games. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Braden Holtby has stopped 28.7 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for the Capitals. Holtby has 13 wins and six losses and has registered a pedestrian 2.61 goals against average and a .919 save percentage this year.
Evgeny Kuznetsov (eight goals, 20 assists) will lead the attack for Washington.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Washington Capitals Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Penalties and power plays could have a key role in this one. The Blue Jackets are 8-5 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 13-7 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Capitals are 5-1 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 8-3 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Two of Columbus’ last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 3-1 overall in shootouts this season.
The over has hit in three of Washington’s last five outings.
Washington is ranked 22nd this season with 10.8 giveaways per game. That figure has trended upward, as the team’s averaged 13.8 giveaways over its last 10 games and 14.2 giveaways over its last five.
One of the best at possessing the puck, Columbus is ranked third this season with just 6.5 giveaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as it’s averaged 8.4 giveaways over its last 10 games and 8.0 giveaways over its last five.
