Arizona Coyotes vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Matchup

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Nationwide Arena will play host to an East-West matchup as the Columbus Blue Jackets welcome the visiting Arizona Coyotes. The action will get started at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 9 and it’ll be televised live on Fox Arizona Plusteams.

Arizona Coyotes at Columbus Blue Jackets Odds

Columbus is 18-11 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.9 units this year. That winning percentage, ranked fifth in the league in this young season, is right in line with the 50-32 record the team produced during last year’s regular season campaign. Through 29 regular season contests, 15 of the teams games have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just one has pushed. This year, the teams 10-5 SU at hometeams. The Blue Jackets have converted on just 9.5 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that puts them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.9 percent of all penaltiesteams. The Blue Jackets, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 2.8 times per game overall this season, and 2.0 per game over their last five at home. The teams had to kill penalties for just 5.2 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overallteams. Sporting a .927 save percentage and 27.6 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (15-8-1) has been the top option in goal for Columbus this season. Bobrovsky did just play last night, however, so head coach John Tortorella may decide to give him a rest and turn to Joonas Korpisalo instead (3-3-3 record, .907 save percentage, 2.81 goals against average)teams. The Jackets will continue to lean on the offensive production from Artemi Panarin and Josh Anderson. Panarin (25 points) has put up seven goals and 18 assists and has recorded two or more points on three different occasions this year. Anderson has 10 goals and seven assists to his credit and has notched a point in 14 conteststeams. Arizona is 7-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 16 of its games have gone under the total, while 14 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the visiting team, the Coyotes are 4-15 SU so farteams. The Coyotes have converted on just 16.3 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 15th overall and it’s successfully defended 80.7 percent of all opponent power playsteams. Arizona’s players have been called for penalties only 3.2 times per game this season, and 2.2 per game over their last five on the road. The teams been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 5.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outingsteams. Scott Wedgewood (27.3 saves per game) has been the main option in the net for Arizona. Wedgewood owns a 3-9-3 record, and has registered a .908 save percentage and 2.98 goals against average this yearteams. Clayton Keller (11 goals, 12 assists) will lead the offensive counter for the visiting Coyotesteams.

Arizona Coyotes vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions

Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over

Betting Notes

  • Columbus is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Arizona is 1-1 in shootoutsteams.
  • Arizona has managed 29.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Columbus is averaging 36.8 shots per game over its last five at hometeams.
  • Over Arizona’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games)teams.
  • This game features two of the tougher defenses in the league. Arizona skaters have accounted for the league’s sixth-most hits per game (23.7) while the Blue Jackets have handed the 11th-most (22.2).