Minnesota Wild (31-21-5) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (18-34-5)
February 23, 2023 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: Columbus Blue Jackets +150 / Minnesota Wild -189; Over/Under: +6
(Get latest betting odds)
The Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets meet Thursday in NHL action at the Nationwide Arena. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
The Minnesota Wild Betting Preview
The Minnesota Wild are averaging 2.9 goals per game and are scoring on 24 percent of their power play opportunities. Kirill Kaprizov leads Minnesota with 33 goals, Mats Zuccarello has 36 assists and Joel Eriksson Ek has 180 shots on goal. Defensively, the Minnesota Wild are allowing 2.8 goals per game and are killing 81.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Marc-Andre Fleury has given up 96 goals on 971 shots faced, and Filip Gustavsson has allowed 53 goals on 738 shots.
The Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview
The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging 2.6 goals per game and are scoring on 16 percent of their power play opportunities. Boone Jenner leads Columbus with 17 goals, Johnny Gaudreau has 37 assists and Patrik Laine has 142 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.7 goals per game and are killing 77.1 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Joonas Korpisalo has allowed 75 goals on 854 shots faced, and Elvis Merzlikins has given up 91 goals on 716 shots.
Wild vs Blue Jackets Trends
The Wild are 0-5 in their last 5 road games and 21-7 in their last 28 vs. Metropolitan. The Blue Jackets are 2-6 in their last 8 home games and 23-53 in their last 76 overall. The under is 21-8-2 in Wild last 31 overall. The under is 4-0 in Blue Jackets last 4 overall. The Wild are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings. The home team is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
Randy’s Free Pick
The Minnesota Wild are going to win on the road eventually, and they’re easily the better team in this spot. The Columbus Blue Jackets don’t play a lick of defense, they’re a top-10 leas profitable teams for bettors, and playing at home hasn’t helped all that much. I have no choice but to side with the Wild and lay the PL to shave down the juice.
