The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Vancouver Canucks meet in NHL action from Rogers Arena on Saturday night. Who comes out ahead in this matchup? Let’s dive in and find out with our Blue Jackets vs. Canucks Prediction.
Columbus Blue Jackets Team Preview
The Columbus Blue Jackets come into this one looking to build on a 5-2 win over Calgary last time out. Johnny Gaudreau leads the Blue Jackets with 29 points including 22 assists while Zach Werenski has 26 points with a team-high 25 assists. Kirill Marchenko has 24 points with a team-high 14 goals and Adam Fantilli has 27 points with 12 goals and 15 assists. Elvis Merzlikins has gone 8-10-6 in goal for Columbus with a 3.29 GAA and a .903 save percentage while Spencer Martin is 3-8-1 with a 3.65 GAA and an .887 save percentage this season.
Columbus Blue Jackets Team Facts
- The Blue Jackets have lost each of their last nine Saturday games.
- The Blue Jackets have covered the puck line in five of their last six night games at Rogers Arena.
- The favorites have won the third period in each of the Blue Jackets’ last five games at Rogers Arena.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Blue Jackets’ last four games against Pacific Division opponents.
Vancouver Canucks Team Preview
The Vancouver Canucks come into this one looking to rebound from a 4-3 OT loss to St. Louis last time out. J.T. Miller leads the Canucks with 64 points including 21 goals and 43 assists while Quinn Hughes has 59 points with 12 goals and a team-high 47 assists. Elias Pettersson’s added 61 points with 25 goals of his own as well as 36 assists and Brock Boeser’s chipped in 48 points with a team-high 27 goals of his own. Filip Hronek’s added 36 points with 33 assists as well for the Canucks this season. Thatcher Demko’s gone 25-8-1 with a 2.40 GAA and a .922 save percentage in goal for Vancouver while Casey DeSmith is 7-3-4 with a 2.65 GAA and a .911 save percentage this season.
Vancouver Canucks Team Facts
- The Canucks have lost each of their last three games as favorites against opponents on a losing streak.
- The Canucks have covered the puck line in each of their last four night games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The home team has won the third period in each of the last seven games between the Blue Jackets and Canucks.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Canucks’ last six night games.
Blue Jackets vs. Canucks Prediction
I’m on the Canucks here. Vancouver’s simply the far better team and while Columbus got the win last time these two teams met, that game was in Columbus and the Canucks have turned into one of the strongest home teams in the NHL this season. I just don’t see any way that the Blue Jackets realistically keep this game close, so I’ll side with the Canucks in this one.