Nationwide Arena is the site for an East-West showdown as the Columbus Blue Jackets face off against the visiting San Jose Sharks. The action will get started at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, February 2, and it can be caught live on Fox Sports Ohio.
San Jose Sharks at Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Columbus comes into the matchup as the favorite with a -135 moneyline. The line for San Jose sits at +115, and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -135 for the under and +115 for the over.
The Blue Jackets are 27-23 straight up (SU) and have recorded -1.4 units for moneyline bettors thus far. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is a regression from the 50-32 record that the team managed during the 2016-17 season campaign. Out of its 50 regular season matches, 28 of them have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team is 16-9 SU at home this year.
Columbus has converted on just 13.9 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 31st overall in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 28th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 76.9 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Columbus has been penalized just 3.1 times per game overall this season, 3.0 per game over its past five matchups total, and 3.6 per game over its last five home outings. The teams had to stave off opponent power plays for just 5.2 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 28.9 saves per game with a .921 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (22-19-4) has been the primary option in goal for the Blue Jackets this year. If head coach John Tortorella chooses to give him a breather, however, the Jackets may go with Joonas Korpisalo (5-5-5 record, .912 save percentage, 2.85 goals against average).
Artemi Panarin and Seth Jones will each lead the way for the Blue Jackets. Panarin (41 points) is up to 13 goals and 28 assists and has recorded two or more points seven times this year. Jones has eight goals and 25 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 26 games.
Over on the other bench, San Jose is 26-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. A total of 30 of its outings have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just one has pushed. San Jose’s 12-14 SU as the visiting team this season.
San Jose has scored on 23.1 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked second overall and it’s successfully defended 84.2 percent of all penalties.
San Jose’s players have been penalized 3.7 times per game this season, and 3.1 per game over their past ten match ups. The teams had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Martin Jones (25.6 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for San Jose. Jones owns a 15-18-6 record, while registering a .911 save percentage and 2.66 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Sharks, the offense will be coordinated by Brent Burns (eight goals, 34 assists) and Logan Couture (21 goals, 16 assists).
San Jose Sharks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- The total has gone under in three of Columbus last five games.
- The Sharks are 8-9 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Blue Jackets are 8-8 SU when they serve more minutes than the opposition.
- Three of Columbus last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 2-1 in those games and 6-4 overall in shootouts this season.
- Columbus skaters have created 7.8 takeaways per game over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 7.7 takeaways per game (ranked 14th).
- San Jose has allowed 2.8 goals per game as a team this year, but has given up 4.5 goals per contest over its last four games (0-4 SU over that span).
- One of the best at creating pressure on opposing teams, San Jose is ranked fifth in the NHL this season with 9.3 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down lately, however, as the team has managed 6.3 takeaways over its last 10 games and 6.2 takeaways over its last five.
