A couple of teams that have put themselves squarely in the playoff picture, the New Jersey Devils and the Columbus Blue Jackets collide at Nationwide Arena for a Metro Division showdown. Fox Sports Ohio will broadcast the action, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 5.
New Jersey Devils at Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Columbus (-195) is currently the favorite over New Jersey (+170), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-130 to bet the under, +110 for the over).
Earning 5.0 units for moneyline bettors, Columbus is 17-10 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked second in the NHL in this young season, hasn’t moved much from the 50-32 record the team posted during the 2016-17 season campaign. Through 27 regular season outings, 15 of the team’s games have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and none have pushed. The team’s 10-4 SU at home this season.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 9.2 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that puts them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.8 percent of all penalties.
The Blue Jackets, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 2.8 times per game overall this season, and 2.2 per game over their last ten matchups. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 4.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.
Boasting a .931 save percentage and 27.7 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (14-7-1) has been the top goalkeeper for Columbus this year. If Columbus decides to give him a rest, however, the team could turn to Joonas Korpisalo (3-3-3 record, .907 save percentage, 2.81 goals against average).
Artemi Panarin and Josh Anderson will both lead the way for the Blue Jackets. Panarin (20 points) is up to seven goals and 13 assists and has recorded multiple points three times this year. Anderson has 10 goals and seven assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 14 contests.
Over on the other bench, New Jersey is 15-11 straight up (SU) and has netted 6.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 13 of its games have gone over the total, while another 13 have gone under and none have pushed. As the visiting team, the Devils are 9-5 SU so far.
The Devils have converted on 21.7 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s good enough for 10th-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 14th overall and it’s successfully defended 81.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
New Jersey’s skaters have been penalized 4.2 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cory Schneider (30.1 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for New Jersey. Schneider owns an 11-8-3 record, and has registered a .920 save percentage and 2.68 goals against average this year.
Taylor Hall (eight goals, 19 assists) has been one of the top offensive facilitators for the visiting Devils.
New Jersey Devils vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
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 year.
The total has gone over in three of Columbus’ last five games.
New Jersey has managed 28.0 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.
Four of Columbus’ last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 3-1 overall in those games.
