Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals Matchup Preview

Daniel GimenezHockey, NHL

In their first head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Washington Capitals meet at Capital One Arena. This Metropolitan Division matchup will get started at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, November 9 and it can be caught live on NBC Sports Washington.

Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals Odds

Washington (-140) is currently favored over Columbus (+120) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).

Columbus is 8-7 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 15 regular season matches, eight of its games have gone under the total, while seven have gone over and none have pushed. This 2018-19 Blue Jackets team is 4-3 SU on the road.

Columbus has converted on just 11.9 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 30th in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked 25th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off only 75.5 percent of all penalties.

Columbus, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties just 3.7 times per game this season. Last year, that figure was the lowest mark in the league at 3.1 penalties per game. After serving an average of 7.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 7.7 minutes per outing this season.

Averaging 27.5 saves per game with a .902 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (4-6) has been the top option in goal for Columbus this season. If it decides to give him a rest, however, head coach John Tortorella might roll with Joonas Korpisalo (4-2-1 record, .884 save percentage, 3.80 goals against average).

Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson will both be relied on to facilitate things for the visiting Blue Jackets. Panarin has 16 points on five goals and 11 assists, and has recorded multiple points in five different games. Atkinson has six goals and five assists to his nameand has registered a point in seven games.

Over on the other bench, Washington is 7-7 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 14 regular season contests, nine of its games have gone over the total, while four have gone under and just one has pushed. It’s 5-3 SU at home so far this year.

Washington currently touts the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has scored on 34.0 percent of its extra-man chances this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 74.5 percent of all opponent power plays.

The Capitals have been penalized 4.1 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.0, the seventh-highest mark in the league. After serving an average of 9.5 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 8.6 minutes per outing this season.

Braden Holtby (28.2 saves per game) has been the top netminder in the crease for Washington. Holtby has five wins, six losses, and three OT losses to his credit and has maintained a pedestrian 3.37 goals against average and a poor .899 save percentage this year.

Evgeny Kuznetsov (six goals, 13 assists) will lead the offensive attack for the Caps.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Washington Capitals Betting Picks

Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over

Betting Trends:

  • For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their past five outings.
  • After averaging the sixth-most shots in the league last season (33.6 per game), Columbus has attempted 32.8 shots per contest overall this season, and 32.2 in its last 10 games.
  • The extra-man advantage could have a key role tonight. The Blue Jackets are 5-5 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 6-3 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Capitals are 4-1 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 6-4 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
  • After winning three of its four shootouts last year, Washington is off to a 1-1 start in shootouts this season. Columbus was 6-4 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.