The reality in the NHL is that only one team can win the Stanley Cup, but that does not mean that every other team in the league will look at their season as a failure. While the better teams in the league will be disappointed when they come up short, there will be many more who will take positives from their season and try to apply them to the next campaign. Every year, though, there are a few teams who seriously underwhelm and who look as though they are a long way off from even getting close to mediocrity. Those teams are already looking ahead to the draft and hoping that the players they land there can start the long, slow rebuild that is to come. The Detroit Red Wings certainly have a way to go to get back to the team they once were, with their season already dead in the water. The Red Wings will be in Columbus on Friday night to face a Blue Jackets team that is on fire right now. Columbus are in as a 1 ½ goal favorite on home ice, with the goal total set at 5 ½.
Red Wings vs Blue Jackets 2020 NHL Betting Lines & Game Preview
#CBJ set to begin stretch of 3 games in 4 days tonight at @NationwideArena. https://t.co/EYrMj8IQ1D
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 7, 2020
- When: Friday, February 7 at 7 PM EST
- Where: Nationwide Arena Columbus
- Radio: Detroit / Columbus
- TV: ESPN+
- NHL Odds: Blue Jackets -1.5 / Total: 5.5
Why bet on the Detroit Red Wings
When you are one of the Original Six teams in the NHL, fans and media tend to hold you to a much higher standard than the rest. There is a history with those teams that can quickly become tarnished when an extended period of poor play takes root. That is where the Detroit Red Wings find themselves right now, as they are rooted to the cellar in the NHL with a shocking 13-38-4 record on the season. They are, though, coming into this one off a rare win, a 4-3 SO win over the Buffalo Sabres in a game played last night. That victory takes the Red Wings to just 1-9 in their last 10 games, while lifting their road record to 5-20-2. Trips to Columbus have not gone well for Detroit, as they have just 1 win in their last 11 visits.
Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 2.09
- Shots: 27.69
- PP/PK Percentage: 14.71
- Goals: 3.82
- Shots: 32.65
- PP/PK Percentage: 26.04
Why bet on the Columbus Blue Jackets
For a while, it looked as though the Columbus Blue Jackets were going to be in for a fight in the battle to win playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, and while they may still be dragged into it, they are playing more than good enough to secure a spot right now. Columbus is coming into this game on a hot run of form, going 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, which has moved their season record to 29-16-9. That record has put the Columbus Blue Jackets in one of the Wild Card spots, but they are also now just 1 point back of the New York Islanders, who are currently in 3rd in the Metropolitan Division. On home ice this season, the Blue Jackets are 17-9-2.
Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 2.67
- Shots: 31.78
- PP/PK Percentage: 17.11
- Goals: 2.50
- Shots: 30.26
- PP/PK Percentage: 17.61
Red Wings vs Blue Jackets NHL Betting Trends
- Detroit are 1-9 SU in their last 10 games.
- Detroit are 1-10 SU in their last 11 games against Columbus.
- Detroit are 1-9 SU in their last 10 games on the road.
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Columbus’ last 10 games.
- Columbus are 8-1 SU in their last 9 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Columbus’ last 6 games against Detroit.
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
These two teams have met twice already this season, with Columbus winning both of those games. The Blue Jackets scored 5 times in each of those two games, which is why I am leaning towards the OVER with this one.
Prediction: Detroit Red Wings 2 Columbus Blue Jackets 6
