Sharks vs Blue Jackets Pick – NHL Predictions & Odds 3/14/23

The Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks meet Tuesday in the NHL action at the SAP Center. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging 2.6 goals per game and are scoring on 17.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Boone Jenner leads Columbus with 21 goals, Johnny Gaudreau has 42 assists and Patrik Laine has 162 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.7 goals per game and are killing 76.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Joonas Korpisalo has allowed 82 goals on 926 shots faced, and Elvis Merzlikins has given up 104 goals on 865 shots.

The San Jose Sharks are averaging 2.9 goals per game and are scoring on 17.5 percent of their power play opportunities. Logan Couture leads San Jose with 23 goals, Erik Karlsson has 64 assists and Tomas Hertl has 149 shots on goal. Defensively, the San Jose Sharks are allowing 3.7 goals per game and are killing 83.1 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Kaapo Kahkonen has allowed 109 goals on 899 shots faced, and James Reimer has allowed 111 goals on 1,047 shots.

The Blue Jackets are 23-58 in their last 81 road games and 17-41 in their last 58 overall. The Sharks are 13-40 in their last 53 home games and 22-62 in their last 84 overall. The over is 4-1 in Blue Jackets last 5 overall. The over is 22-7-2 in Sharks last 31 home games. The Blue Jackets are 8-23 in the last 31 meetings in San Jose. The home team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings. The underdog is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings.

I’m not running to the window to back either of these losing teams, but somebody has to win. If forced to pick, give me the Sharks because they’re at home. It’s something. The Columbus Blue Jackets are god awful, and things get even worse on the road. Stay away game with a packed card, but it’s Sharks if forced to pick because of the home ice.