The Anaheim Ducks, spearheaded by Ryan Getzlaf and Rickard Rakell, are prepared to take the ice against Cam Atkinson, Artemi Panarin, and the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in an East-West matchup. KCOP will air the matchup, and the opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 15.
Anaheim Ducks at Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
The Blue Jackets (-175) are being picked as the favorites over the Ducks (+155) and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-130 to bet the over, +110 for the under).
Despite posting a record of 17-14 straight up (SU), Columbus has earned moneyline bettors a total of 2.8 units this season. Through 31 regular season contests, 16 of the team’s games have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just three have pushed. The team is 8-8 SU at home this year.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 15.8 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s ranked 24th overall in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 79.3 percent of all penalties.
With a .901 save percentage and 26.1 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (12-10) has been the primary goalkeeper for Columbus this season. If head coach John Tortorella decides to give him a breather, however, Columbus may go with Joonas Korpisalo (5-7-7 record, .885 save percentage, 3.54 goals against average).
On the other hand, Anaheim is 17-16 straight up (SU) and has earned 3.6 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 33 regular season outings, 19 of its games have gone under the total, while 13 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the away team this season, the Ducks are 7-7 SU.
The Ducks have converted on just 15.6 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 16th overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
John Gibson (29.5 saves per game) has been the main choice in goal for Anaheim. Gibson has 14 wins, 13 losses, and four overtime losses to his credit, while registering a .925 save percentage and 2.60 goals against average this year.
Anaheim Ducks at Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner \u2013 Blue Jackets, O/U \u2013 Over
Betting Trends
- A majority (64.7 percent) of Columbus’ wins have been by two or more goals, and the team’s 11-10 overall in such games. 5 of Anaheim’s 17 wins (29.4 percent) have been decided by two or more goals.
- Power plays and penalty kills may prove to be even more critical than usual in the outcome of this one. The Ducks are 2-2 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 11-8 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Blue Jackets are 9-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 13-10 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Anaheim (3-2 in shootouts) has more shootout experience coming into this one. Columbus fell short in its only shootout this season.
- The over has hit in four of Anaheim’s last five outings.
- Anaheim is ranked 23rd this season with 11.3 giveaways per game. That figure’s trended higher recently, as the team’s averaged 12.3 giveaways over its last 10 games and 15.6 giveaways over its last five.
- Columbus skaters have averaged 5.8 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 7.5 giveaways per game (ranked 5th).
- Anaheim skaters have dished out the 11th-most hits in the league (22.4 per game), but the team’s averaged just 19.8 hits over their last five away games.
