The 82-game NHL season is an absolute grind that only the very best teams are able to survive. It’s one of the reasons why we see division leaders at the end of the season look different from what we see at the midway point. We are at that halfway mark right now, with the battle for division supremacy tight in all divisions outside the Atlantic, where the Tampa Bay Lightning are running away with things. Over the last couple of seasons, the Nashville Predators have made deep playoff runs only to come away empty-handed, and they once again look as though they are going to be one of the teams to beat in the Western Conference, as they hold a slender lead in the Central Division.
Thursday night will see them hit the road to face a Columbus Blue Jackets team that is stalking the pace in the Metropolitan Division. Both of these teams are almost certainly going to be playoff bound this season, so this is a very good match-up. The Predators are in as the road NHL betting favorite here, with the goal total set at 6.
Predators at Blue Jackets NHL Spread & Expert Prediction
ICYMI: Fil wins it in OT 🔥#NSHvsCHI | @EASPORTSNHL pic.twitter.com/j8EG4AUo11
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) 10 de enero de 2019
- When: Thursday, January 10 at 7 PM EST
- Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus
- TV: NHL Network
- Radio: TuneIn
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
- NHL Spread: Columbus Blue Jackets -1.5 (Total 6)
Capitals vs Bruins NHL Week 15 Odds & Game Analysis
Team Records
- All: Predators 27-15-3 / Blue Jackets 24-15-3
- Home: Predators 15-7 / Blue Jackets 11-8-2
- Away: Predators 12-8-3 / Blue Jackets 13-7-1
- ATS: Predators 18-27 / Blue Jackets 20-22
- Over/Under: Predators 21-23-1 / Blue Jackets 16-22-4
Why bet on the Nashville Predators?
After a little bit of a swoon, the Nashville Predators appear to be back on track, as they are coming into this game having won each of their last 3. It is a run that has allowed them to stay at the top of the Central Division, albeit just a single point up on the Winnipeg Jets. During their 3-game winning run, the Predators have re-established the defensive style of hockey that has helped them be so successful over the past few seasons, scoring 12 and surrendering just 4 goals in that run.
This will be the 5th game on the Predators road trip, where they are a solid 3-1-0, taking their season record on the road to 12-8-3. Nashville has had real success against Columbus, winning each of the last 5 meetings. They have also won 3 in a row in Columbus.
Team Stats
Home- Goals: 3.09
- Shots: 32.62
- PP/PK Percentage: 16.00
- Goals: 2.49
- Shots: 28.56
- PP/PK Percentage: 18.52
Why bet on the Columbus Blue Jackets?
The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently sitting in the #3 spot in the Metropolitan Division, although they are just 3 back of the Penguins and 5 points off the pace being set by the Washington Capitals at the top of the division. Columbus is on a very solid run of form right now, winning 7 of their last 10 games. That record is all the more impressive when you consider that 6 of their last 8 games were played on the road.
That said, there is very little difference between the Blue Jacket record away from home (13-7-1) versus their home mark, which sits at 11-8-2. The Jackets have been great versus teams from the Central Division, going 5-1-0 in those match-ups, but this will be the first time that they will have faced the Predators this season.
Team Stats
Home- Goals: 3.21
- Shots: 31.98
- PP/PK Percentage: 12.80
- Goals: 3.10
- Shots: 30.19
- PP/PK Percentage: 19.47
Predators at Blue Jackets NHL Betting Trends
- Nashville is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
- Nashville is 4-11 SU in its last 15 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Nashville’s last 6 games on the road
- Columbus is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Nashville
- Columbus is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Nashville
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Columbus’s last 8 games at home
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Predators at Blue Jackets
We very often see situations where one team continuously seems to struggle against another, which is very much the case with these two. The Predators have won 5-straight against the Columbus Blue Jackets and their current form suggests that another win might be on the way.
Score: Nashville Predators 4 – Columbus Blue Jackets 1
