The Utah Hockey Club and Columbus Blue Jackets meet Thursday in NHL action at the Nationwide Arena. Here’s a Blue Jackets vs Hockey Club Prediction. This article will include a Blue Jackets vs Hockey Club Pick.
Utah Hockey Club Betting Preview
The Utah Hockey Club beat the Flyers, lost to the Blues, and they play the Hurricanes, Capitals, and Kings next. The Utah Hockey Club are averaging 2.77 goals per game and is scoring 21.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Clayton Keller leads Utah with 18 goals, Nick Schmaltz has 30 assists and Logan Cooley has 110 shots on goal. Defensively, the Utah Hockey Club is allowing 2.92 goals per game and is killing 82.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Connor Ingram has given up 58 goals on 501 shots faced, while Karel Vejmelka has allowed 77 goals on 860 shots.
Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview
The Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Stars and Sabres, and play the Rangers, Blackhawks, and Stars next. The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging 3.24 goals per game and are scoring 21.4 percent of their power play opportunities. Kirill Marchenko leads Columbus with 21 goals, Zach Werenski has 40 assists and Adam Fantilli has 120 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.3 goals per game and are killing 74.8 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Daniil Tarasov has allowed 52 goals on 421 shots faced, and Elvis Merzlikins has given up 104 goals on 985 shots.
Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win
- The Blue Jackets have won each of their last seven games as home underdogs following a road loss.
- Utah has lost three of its last four games as a favorite.
- The Blue Jackets have covered the puck line in each of their last nine games as home underdogs following a road loss.
- Utah has failed to cover the puck line in each of its last six games.
- The Blue Jackets have won the first period in nine of their last 10 games at Nationwide Arena following a road loss.
Why the Utah Hockey Club will win
- Utah has won four of its last five road games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The road team has covered the puck line in each of Utah’s last four games.
- The Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in three of their last four games as home underdogs against Central Division opponents.
- Utah has won the second period in each of its last four games against Metropolitan Division opponents when tied after the first period.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 26th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.30).
- The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 26th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (74.83%).
- Utah Hockey Club rank 6th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (82.32%).
- Utah Hockey Club rank 2nd in the league for Period 1 goals allowed per game this season (0.60).
Blue Jackets vs Hockey Club Injury Report
The Blue Jackets will be without Kirill Marchenko, while Zach Werenski is questionable.
The Utah Hockey Club will be without Logan Cooley and Tij Iginla.
Blue Jackets vs Hockey Club Prediction
The Utah Hockey Club have had issues finishing games lately, with losses in five of their last six games, and they’re just not a team I love backing in the favorite role. The Columbus Blue Jackets are coming off tough losses to the Stars and Sabres, and it could be easy to write them off, given the defense picks and chooses when it wants to show up. With all of that said, we’re getting the Blue Jackets at home with the plus money. The Blue Jackets are 17-5-3 on their home ice this season. The Blue Jackets also beat Utah on the road as an underdog in overtime last week. This line doesn’t make sense. Give me the Blue Jackets and the more favorable price.