In the NHL, like in most professional sports, there is a fine line between making the playoffs and missing out for a number of teams. The assumption is that a certain number of points should be good enough for a playoff spot, but those numbers tend to change with each passing season, as it’s impossible to know how things are going to go with every team in the league. Generally speaking, 95 points is the total that will almost certainly assure a team a spot in the postseason, and if that is indeed the case again this year, then there are a lot of teams out there with some work to do in the second half.
The Winnipeg Jets would appear to be in pretty good shape, as they are cruising towards 70 points already, while also holding onto top spot in the Central Division. Things are a little tougher for the Columbus Blue Jackets, although given how tight the race is in the Metropolitan Division, their current standing does not look too bad. The Jets are in as a 1 ½ goal favorite here, with the goal total set at 6 ½.
Blue Jackets at Jets NHL Betting Lines & Game Info
“Everybody wants to step up and you’ll see that tonight.” – @sedli22 pic.twitter.com/Ctex8jMFOA
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) 31 de enero de 2019
- When: Thursday, January 31 at 8 PM EST
- Where: Bell MTS Place, Winnipeg
- TV: ESPN+
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
- NHL Betting Lines: Winnipeg Jets -145 (Total 6.5)
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Why bet on the Columbus Blue Jackets?
The Columbus Blue Jackets may be sitting down in the #4 spot in the Metropolitan Division, but they have the benefit of being wedged in among a very tight pack, just 4 points out of the top spot. As it stands right now, they are one of the Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference, but a win here could see them move up a couple of spots and into some more comfortable footing.
A strange quirk in scheduling will mean that this is the first time that the Blue Jackets will have faced the Jets since late 2017, but they will be hoping to continue their dominance of Winnipeg despite that gap. They have won 3 of the last 4 meetings, 2 of which came on the road to the Jets. In road games this season, Columbus is a healthy 14-8-1.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.22
- Shots: 31.92
- PP/PK Percentage: 15.07
- Goals: 3.08
- Shots: 30.29
- PP/PK Percentage: 16.79
Why bet on the Winnipeg Jets?
There is a still a lot of hockey to be played, but when you look at the current state of the Central Division, it would be an absolute shocker if the Jets were not in the postseason. They sit at the top of the division with 66 points, and while that has them just 2 points up on the Nashville Predators, they are 11 points clear of the Minnesota Wild in the #3 spot.
The Jets have been trucking along nicely of late, winning 7 of their last 10 games, plus they have proven to be very tough to beat at home, going 18-6-2 in their own building. The Jets have also been very good when playing against teams from the Eastern Conference, posting a 12-6-1 record in those games.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.44
- Shots: 31.88
- PP/PK Percentage: 26.45
- Goals: 2.80
- Shots: 32.74
- PP/PK Percentage: 18.83
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Blue Jackets at Jets NHL Betting Trends
- Columbus is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
- Columbus is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Columbus’s last 5 games when playing Winnipeg
- Winnipeg is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
- Winnipeg is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Expert Pick & Expert Final Score Prediction
The last meeting between these two was a close one that went beyond regulation time. I think we might be in for more of the same here, but I am on the Jets to take full advantage of home ice by picking up the win.
Score: Columbus Blue Jackets 2 – Winnipeg Jets 3
