Nationwide Arena will play host to an intriguing showdown as the Columbus Blue Jackets welcome the visiting Detroit Red Wings. This Eastern Conference matchup will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 21, and it is being shown live on Fox Sports Detroit.
Detroit Red Wings at Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Columbus (-170) is favored over Detroit (+150), and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -110 money on the over and -110 on the under.
The Blue Jackets are 8-12 straight-up (SU) and have punished moneyline bettors to the tune of -3.2 units so far. That early-season winning percentage is a regression from the 47-35 record that the team posted during last year’s regular season campaign. Through 20 regular season contests, 12 of the team’s games have gone under the total, while seven have gone over and just one has pushed. Thus far, the team is 5-6 SU at home.
Columbus has converted on just 15.6 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 23rd overall in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 20th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.6 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Columbus has been called for penalties just 3.3 times per game overall this season, 2.8 per game over its last five contests total, and 3.2 per game over its last five at home. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays for just 7.9 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 25.9 saves per game with a .900 save percentage, Joonas Korpisalo (eight wins, eight losses, and one OT loss) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Blue Jackets this season. If the Jackets choose to give him the night off, however, head coach John Tortorella could turn to the winless Elvis Merzlikins (0-5-5 record, .894 save percentage, 3.42 goals against average).
Pierre-Luc Dubois and Gustav Nyquist will each be focal points for the Blue Jackets. Dubois (15 points) has produced nine goals and six assists and has shown up in the points column 11 different times this year. Nyquist has three goals and nine assists to his name and has notched a point in nine contests.
Detroit has lost 4.8 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 7-16 straight up (SU). Through 23 regular season outings, 11 of its games have gone over the total, while eight have gone under the total and four have pushed. Detroit’s 3-9 SU as the away team this season.
Detroit has converted on just 15.1 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that places it in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 30th overall and it’s successfully killed off 72.2 percent of all penalties.
Detroit’s players have been penalized 3.6 times per game this season, 3.6 per game over their last five contests total, and 3.2 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jonathan Bernier (24.5 saves per game) has been the main choice in goal for Detroit. Bernier has five wins, nine losses, and two OT losses to his credit, while registering a .891 save percentage and 3.24 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive firepower for the visiting Red Wings will be Anthony Mantha (12 goals, 10 assists) and Tyler Bertuzzi (eight goals, 12 assists).
Detroit Red Wings at Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Picks
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in three of Columbus’ last five outings.
- Five of Detroit’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-4 in those games.
- Detroit skaters registered 21.3 hits per game last season, while the Jackets logged 23.0 hits per matchup.
