Canadiens vs. Blue Jackets Prediction: NHL Betting Odds
No question that Canadiens-Blue Jackets is the biggest game of Thursday night around the NHL in terms of the Stanley Cup playoffs and whether either of these teams (or possibly both) gets there. It’s looking more and more like two of Carolina, Montreal and Columbus will be the East’s two wild-card teams.
The Hurricanes have 91 points, the Canadiens 90 and the Blue Jackets 88. As of this writing, Hockey Reference gives the percentage of a wild-card spot to each as: Hurricanes 61, Blue Jackets 52.3 and Canadiens 51.1.
It is rather important to try and get the top wild-card spot because the No. 8 seed would have to face record-setting Tampa Bay in the first round of the playoffs.
Canadiens vs Blue Jackets Betting Analysis
Montreal has lost the season series to Carolina but already has clinched against Columbus regardless of what happens Thursday thanks to a 2-0 lead. The Habs won 4-1 in Ohio on Jan. 18 and 3-2 at home on Feb. 19. Shea Weber (3A), Tomas Tatar (3G) and Max Domi (1G, 2A) lead the Canadiens with three points each this season vs. Columbus. Carey Price won both with a save percentage of .956.
Joonas Korpisalo and Sergei Bobrovsky have each started a game in net for the Jackets against Montreal. Boone Jenner (2A) and Josh Anderson (1G, 1A) lead with two points each.
The home team is 6-2 in the past eight meetings.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens avoided a potential trap game at home vs. Florida on Tuesday, routing the Panthers 6-1. That was largely over after one with Montreal up 3-0. Price stopped 33 shots and has gone five straight games without a regulation loss. Price also has allowed two goals or fewer in seven of his past eight games. Good time to get hot.
Tatar was the No. 1 star on Tuesday with two goals (both in first period) and an assist. He’s up to a career-high 57 points, second on the team to Domi (68). Forward Paul Byron left in the first period after a collision and didn’t return. He has 15 goals and 15 assists this year. The Habs have lost their past seven road games vs. teams with a winning home record.
Columbus Blue Jackets
It surely will be Bobrovsky in net here for Columbus, which has won back-to-back games over the Canucks and Islanders by a combined score of 9-0 behind the Russian. Bobrovsky has had an interesting season with a career-high eight shutouts (32 career) but also allowing at least five goals five times. He’s 33-23-1 with a 2.62 GAA and .911 SV.
Sniper Artemi Panarin scored his first goal in 13 games in Tuesday’s victory over the Islanders. Monitor the status of top Jackets blueliner Zach Werenski as he left in the third period with an undisclosed injury and did not return. He has 11 goals and 32 assists this season. Columbus has won its past four home games.
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