PNC Arena plays host to a divisional showdown as the Carolina Hurricanes take the ice against the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets. It’s the fourth and last time that the two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The match will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 16, and you will be able to see the game live on Fox Sports Ohio.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Carolina Hurricanes Odds
The moneyline for each side is currently set at an identical -110, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-125 money on the under, +105 on the over).
Columbus is 20-12 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 4.2 units this season. Through 32 regular season matches, 16 of its games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Blue Jackets team is 8-6 SU on the road.
Columbus has converted on just 10.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams.
Its penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.5 percent of its penalties.
The Jackets, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 2.9 times per game overall this season, and 3.6 per game over its past five games. The teams been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .923 save percentage and 27.3 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (17-9-1) has been the primary option in goal for Columbus this year. If Columbus chooses to rest him, however, the team might go with Joonas Korpisalo (3-4), who has a .903 save percentage and 2.97 goals against average this year.
Artemi Panarin and Oliver Bjorkstrand will both lead the way for the visiting Blue Jackets. Panarin (28 points) has tallied seven goals and 21 assists, and has recorded multiple points four times. Bjorkstrand has six goals and 15 assists to his creditand has logged a point in 16 games.
On the other side of the rink, Carolina is 13-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 31 regular season matches, 14 of its games have gone over the total, while another 14 have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 6-7 SU as the home team this season.
The Hurricanes have converted on just 15.0 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.3 percent of all penalties.
Carolina players have been sent to the penalty box only 2.8 times per game in total this season, and 3.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Scott Darling has stopped 23.8 shots per game as the top choice in goal for the Hurricanes. Darling has seven wins, 15 losses, and six OT losses to his credit and has maintained a mediocre 2.72 goals against average and a subpar .899 save percentage this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Teuvo Teravainen (eight goals, 16 assists).
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Carolina Hurricanes Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Three of Carolina’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 2-1 in those games and 3-3 overall in shootouts this year.
- The total has gone under in four of Carolina’s last five games.
- Two clubs that have pounded opponents nets with shots, Columbus has registered the leagues fifth-most shots on goal (34.7) and Carolina has attempted the second-most (35.1). The Jackets have averaged 31.0 shot attempts over their last five road games and the Canes have taken 39.0 shots over their last five home outings.
