In a game between two squads that are firmly in playoff contention, the Minnesota Wild and the Columbus Blue Jackets meet at Nationwide Arena in an East-West tilt. This one gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 30 and it can be viewed live on Fox Sports Ohio.
Minnesota Wild at Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Columbus (-125) is currently the favorite over Minnesota (+105), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -130 for the under and +110 for the over.
Columbus is 27-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. That win percentage, the second-best in the Metropolitan Division so far in this young season, is a slide from what the team recorded during the 2016-17 season (50-32). 27 of its 49 matches have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team is 16-8 SU at home.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 13.5 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s ranked 31st overall in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 28th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 77.3 percent of all penalties.
The Blue Jackets, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.1 times per game overall this season, and 3.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to defend opposition power plays for just 5.8 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
With a .920 save percentage and 28.6 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (22-18-3) has been the primary option in goal for the Jackets this year. If the Jackets, however, choose to give him the evening off, Columbus could roll with Joonas Korpisalo (5-5-5 record, .912 save percentage, 2.85 goals against average).
The Jackets will continue to lean on the leadership via Artemi Panarin and Seth Jones. Panarin (39 points) has tallied 12 goals and 27 assists and has recorded two or more points in seven different games this year. Jones has eight goals and 24 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 25 games.
On the other bench, Minnesota is 26-23 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. A total of 25 of its matches have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the visiting team, the Wild are 9-15 SU so far.
The Wild have converted on 19.9 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 11th overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.2 percent of all penalties.
Minnesota’s skaters have been called for penalties 4.1 times per game this season, and 2.2 per game over their last five games. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Devan Dubnyk (27.7 saves per game) has been the main choice in goal for Minnesota. Dubnyk owns a 19-13-3 record, while registering a .916 save percentage and 2.68 goals against average this year.
Eric Staal (20 goals, 23 assists) will lead the attack for the visiting Wild.
Minnesota Wild vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Two of Columbus’ last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 6-3 overall in shootouts this year.
The total has gone under in three of Columbus’ last five games.
Seven of Minnesota’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-2 in those games.
The Blue Jackets this season have registered the 12th-most hits per game (21.9).
