Two of the least-penalized teams in the NHL, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Vegas Golden Knights take the ice at Nationwide Arena in an East-West showdown. The match will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 6 and it is being shown live on Fox Sports Ohio.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Vegas (-115) is currently favored over Columbus (-105), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-125 money on the under, +105 on the over).
Vegas is 42-23 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 18.1 units this season. 36 of its games have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and just two have pushed. As a road team in 2017-18, the Knights are 18-14 SU.
Vegas has converted on 22.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for fifth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 18th out of 31 teams, and it’s successfully killed off 80.3 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Knights have been whistled for penalties just 3.3 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 4.4 per game over its past five. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.9 saves per game with a .928 save percentage, Marc-Andre Fleury (22-11-3) has been the primary option in goal for Vegas this year. If head coach Gerard Gallant decides to rest him, however, the team could go with Malcolm Subban (12-4-1), who has a .912 save percentage and 2.59 goals against average this year.
The visiting Golden Knights have relied heavily on Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith this year. Marchessault has 65 points on 22 goals and 43 assists, and has recorded two or more points 20 times. Smith has 22 goals and 38 assists to his name, and has notched a point in 39 games.
Columbus is 33-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. 35 of its matches have gone under the total, while 30 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team’s 19-13 SU at home.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 14.5 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 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 76.9 percent of all penalties.
Columbus players have been penalized only 3.0 times per game in total this season, and 2.0 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sergei Bobrovsky (28.1 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for the Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky has 28 wins, 26 losses, and five overtime losses to his name and has maintained a 2.44 goals against average and a .920 save percentage this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Artemi Panarin (20 goals, 35 assists).
Vegas Golden Knights at Columbus Blue Jackets Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Columbus is 6-4 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vegas is 2-2 in shootouts.
- The over has hit in four of Columbus’ last five games.
- Vegas has managed 31.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Columbus is averaging 37.4 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Seven of Vegas’ last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-2 in those games.
