The Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators meet Tuesday in NHL action at the Bridgestone Arena. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
The Columbus Blue Jackets Preview
The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging 2.6 goals per game and are scoring on 15.3 percent of their power play opportunities. Johnny Gaudreau leads Columbus with 12 goals, Jack Roslovic has 19 assists and Boone Jenner has 96 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 4 goals per game and are killing 76.1 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Joonas Korpisalo has allowed 52 goals on 568 shots faced, and Elvis Merzlikins has given up 74 goals on 566 shots.
The Nashville Predators Preview
The Nashville Predators are averaging 2.8 goals per game and are scoring on 16.7 percent of their power play opportunities. Filip Forsberg leads Nashville with 18 goals, Roman Josi has 23 assists and Nino Niederreiter has 103 shots on goal. Defensively, the Nashville Predators are allowing 2.9 goals per game and are killing 79.2 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Juuse Saros has allowed 86 goals on 1,065 shots faced, and Kevin Lankinen has allowed 27 goals on 329 shots.
Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators Trends
The Blue Jackets are 19-50 in their last 69 road games and 18-43 in their last 61 overall. The Predators are 2-5 in their last 7 home games and 3-8 in their last 11 games playing on 0 days rest. The over is 5-1 in Blue Jackets last 6 overall. The Blue Jackets are 5-30 in the last 35 meetings in Nashville and 22-54 in the last 76 meetings. The home team is 40-18 in the last 58 meetings. The favorite is 50-22 in the last 72 meetings.
Randy’s Free Pick
Two teams on the end of a back to back, and I’m not excited to back the Predators, especially at this price. However, the Blue Jackets are going nowhere fast, and they’ve been a hard pass on the road dating back to last season. I want nothing to do with the Blue Jackets here. If forced to pick, give me the Preds and the PL for max betting value.