Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, 12/20/2021 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres

Date: Monday, December 20, 2021

Location: KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG Network

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (-108) Sabres (-102)

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and the Buffalo Sabres (10-15-5) play the Columbus Blue Jackets (14-13-1) at KeyBank Center on Monday. The odds on this game have the Blue Jackets priced at -108 and the Sabres are at -102. The over/under opens at 5.5.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will need a bounce back game after taking a 5-2 loss to the Oilers in their previous game. Columbus tallied 6 minutes in the box in this outing. The Blue Jackets had a below average offensive performance in this loss. Additionally, they had 3 chances on the power play but didn't convert them into a score. For the matchup, they scored on 2 of the 38 shots they attempted.

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Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have totaled 75 power play tries (29th in hockey) and have earned 16 goals in those chances. The Blue Jackets have had 973 shots attempted against them and hold a save percentage of .903. Columbus has tried 836 shots and holds a shot percentage of 10.7%. While at even strength, the Blue Jackets let the opposition score 78 goals while having 76 on offense. Columbus has accumulated 70 power play chances and they have notched 13 goals out of those tries, giving them a rate of 18.57%. For the season, they have racked up 29 points and their points percentage is sitting at .518. When discussing their scoring capabilities, the Columbus Blue Jackets have earned 89 goals (12th in pro hockey) for the season and have conceded 94.

The player protecting the goal in this game is Elvis Merzlikins. Merzlikins has played in 80 contests throughout his hockey career. He has compiled a mark of 32-28-14 and got the start in 73 games. Opponents have notched 194 goals versus Merzlikins in his pro career and his goals against average per game is 2.66. Merzlikins has seen 2,351 shots against him and has recorded 2,157 saves. His save percentage currently is .917 for his 4,372 mins in the crease. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Merzlikins has accounted for 40 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .548.

In their last contest, Buffalo squared up with the Penguins in an outing where the Sabres ended up losing by a final score of 3-2. They had 3 power play chances in this game but weren't able to finish one of them with a goal. The Sabres had 2 goals out of the 21 shots on goal they attempted.

The Sabres have racked up 66 goals at even strength and 14 goals (22nd in hockey) while having a power play advantage. Buffalo has tried 885 shots (22nd in professional hockey) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 9.04%, while allowing the opposition 1,023 shots. So far this year, the Buffalo Sabres have notched a total of 80 goals, 25 points, as well as a points percentage of .417. They have a total of 76 opportunities on the power play and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 18.42%. They have a penalty kill rate of 80.00% on their opponents 75 power play opportunities, and their save percentage is currently 89.9%. They have allowed 103 goals to be scored by of a combination of 88 goals at even strength and 15 goals while they had less men on the ice.

Across the ice you will find Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in goal. He has accounted for 289 saves out of the 313 shots attempted against him, giving him a save % of .923. Luukkonen has earned a lifetime record of 3-5-1 and has been in goal for 9 games. He has started in 9 games and has played for a total of 523 mins. Luukkonen's quality start rate sits at 66.7% and he has made 6 quality starting assignments in his career. His opposition is averaging 2.75 goals/game and he has surrendered 24 goals overall.

Who will win tonight's hockey game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus (-108)

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