Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Ottawa Senators Prediction, NHL Odds
The Jackets will travel to Ottawa to play their second game in as many nights after losing to the Seattle Kraken last night on home ice.
Ottawa will be a heavy -275 favourite to win on the NHL odds with the total sitting at the usual 6.5.
Blue Jackets vs. Senators NHL Betting Odds
The Sens had no problem with Columbus in their first meeting of the season back in January handing the Jackets a 4-0 loss. Tim Stutzle lead the way up front with a goal and a helper and Ottawa’s defence held the Blue Jackets to just 22 shots, helping goalie Anton Forsberg to a somewhat easy shutout on home ice. Tonight will be the second of three meetings this season.
Their most recent matchup played the Under as well as all three of their meetings last season, a series where the Sens won twice.
Columbus has been in the bottom five of league scoring (2.6 goals per game) all season, but they have clicked a bit better in their past 10, averaging three goals per game over that span. In their last 10, they played the Over seven times evening their record on the total at 30-30-1. The Jackets failed to cover last night snapping a three-game win streak ATS, putting them at 31-30 ATS on the year.
The Senators are playing their best hockey of the season lately, winning all of their past four games, while covering the spread and smashing the Over in each one. Their impressive 35-26 record ATS is second to only the Bruins in the Atlantic Division. Ottawa has scored a ton lately and played the Over in seven of their past 10 games, which is significant considering their 27-34 record on the Over/Under.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets fell to last place in the NHL last night after taking a 4-2 loss on home ice versus the Seattle Kraken. Patrick Laine sniped a powerplay goal from the top of the circle to break the scoreless tie midway through the second period giving the Jackets the lead. After a pair of goals from the Kraken, Laine would get on the score sheet again in the third setting up Adam Boqvist’s goal tying the game at two. Columbus’ penalty-killing unit let them down in the end allowing a second powerplay goal on just four opportunities and Seattle would add an empty netter for the 4-2 final.
Laine has missed almost 20 games this season with injury but has carried the offence when healthy. The 24-year-old has 41 points in 47 games this season second behind Johnny Gaudreau.
Elvis Merzlikins made 31 saves in just his 27th appearance this season due to injuries. Freshly acquired Michael Hutchinson will likely get his first start in a Jackets uniform tonight in Ottawa.
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are desperately pushing for the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference and they are on the right track, currently riding a four-game heater. Their most impressive win of the streak was certainly their most recent, where they handed a stacked New York Rangers team a 5-3 loss in their own barn.
In his 1,000th NHL game, Derick Brassard had his best performance of the season, scoring two goals for the first time this season. Fellow veteran Claude Giroux had himself a night as well picking up three points (1G 2A) including the game-winning goal.
The Sens managed to snag one of the biggest names on the trade list this season, defenceman Jakob Chychrun from Arizona. He made his debut in New York on Thursday night and played just over 19 minutes, took reps on both special team units and blocked five shots.
Sitting just four points out of that final wildcard spot with just 21 games left, the Senators will need to keep up their solid team play to sneak into the postseason. They have not made the playoffs since the 2016-17 season.